On December 5, the Elysée had issued a press release for the day of homage to the “dead for France” during the Algerian war. This press release announced that the associations representing returnees will be “received by the President of the Republic in the first days of next year”. 2022, therefore.
In the process, the Elysée informed Franceinfo that the date of January 13 held the cord. But on the agenda of the Head of State, nothing planned this Thursday with the Pieds-Noirs. On the other hand, an interview with Admiral Philippe de Gaulle, son of the general, is on the agenda.
“Quite funny” comments, a little acerbic, an association manager. But much more than this telescoping, it is a series of blunders which annoyed the representatives of the returnees. Like learning by press release that a meeting is being considered, then by the press that the date of December 13 is being considered. Bernard Coll, secretary general of Jeune Pied-Noir, points to the “rider“from the presidency, who did not respond to any of his 40 letters addressed to Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet. “It’s settling down “, answers the Elysee, arguing an adjustment of agendas.
The presidency also refers to the cabinet of Geneviève Darrieussecq, Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces, in charge of Memory. Which one says “absolutely not be in the loop”. “We are not in the process of this”, explains his entourage.
At the Elysee Palace, one person nevertheless follows the file very closely: it is Brigitte Macron. The cabinet of the “first lady” called Bernard Coll, the secretary general of Jeune Pied-Noir, Monday, January 10, to assure him that she was going to take care of it personally, to transmit the message to the highest. “She was the one who was the most cooperative”, according to him.