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Rabat – The French National Assembly has voted to end the 1968 French-Algerian agreement, which grants Algerian citizens easier access to residence and work permits in France.
The far-right National Rally (RN) proposed the motion, which was backed by conservative lawmakers, marking the first time a text from Marine Le Pen’s party has been approved in parliament.
Lawmakers adopted the resolution with 185 votes to 184.
Le Pen described the vote as a “historic day” for the RN. Converging reports said the resolution has no legislative power. However, Le Pen urged the government to take the vote into account.
“We believe there is no longer any justification for maintaining this convention,” she said.
However, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise, denounced the vote, saying, “Shame on the RN.”
He accused the far-right of “continuing the wars of the past.”
In February, a French Senate report also recommended the termination of the agreement in light of recent developments in Algerian-French ties.
The report called on the government to “initiate a new round of negotiations with Algeria to rebalance the special regime for residence permits and circulation provided by the December 27, 1968, agreement.”
Algerian analyst Oualid Kebir told Morocco World News (MWN) that the agreement would have a negative impact on Algerians, particularly students, retirees, and workers, especially since Algerians are the largest foreign community in the European country.
“For France, the far-right move could create embarrassment for the French government, which has been trying to repair ties with Algeria,” Kebir said.
He added that the Algerian regime could exploit the situation, portraying it as an opportunity to Algeria, adding that the decision represents a “breaking point” in ties between Paris and Algiers.
France and Algeria have been witnessing tensions over migration that have been on the rise. Algeria refused to take back over 100 nationals facing deportation from France.
For several months, France has been pledging to tighten travel conditions for France for a group of Algerian dignitaries.
In August, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the French government to make additional decisions and to act with “greater firmness and determination” against Algeria and its authorities.
“The Algerian authorities have made the deliberate choice not to respond to our repeated calls over recent months to work together in the interest of our two nations.”
The tensions also further escalated following the imprisonment of French Algerian author Boualem Sansal, who was sentenced to five years in prison after he voiced support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.
