France’s National Assembly has, for the first time, approved a motion introduced by the far-right National Rally (RN) calling for the repeal of the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement, which grants Algerian citizens special residency and immigration privileges.
The motion passed by a razor-thin margin — 185 votes in favor and 184 against — marking a symbolic yet significant victory for the RN. The motion, although non-binding, reflects the growing influence of the far right in French politics.
A Symbolic Victory for the Far Right
The proposal, tabled by the National Rally, received support from some members of the conservative Republicans (LR) and former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe’s Horizons group.
“This is a historic day for the National Rally,” declared party leader Marine Le Pen following Thursday’s vote. “For the first time, a motion presented by our party has been adopted,” she said, emphasizing that this occurred despite opposition from the left, President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance bloc, and the government.
While the vote has no direct legal effect — only the president and prime minister can terminate international treaties — it represents a major ideological milestone for the RN, whose previous proposals have consistently been rejected by mainstream parties.
The 1968 Accord and Its Legacy
The 1968 agreement was signed six years after Algeria gained independence from France. It granted Algerians and their families easier access to French residency and allowed them to establish businesses or work as freelancers with fewer administrative barriers than other foreign nationals.
Le Pen argued that the accord is outdated and should be abolished, saying it “no longer reflects France’s immigration priorities.”
“We consider there is no longer any justification for maintaining this convention,” she stated.
Strong Opposition from the Left
Left-wing parties condemned the vote, calling it a dangerous return to colonial-era politics.
“Shame on the RN, which endlessly continues the wars of the past,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The left denounced the motion as discriminatory and racially motivated, sparking heated debate across the political spectrum.
Criticism of Macron’s Camp
The outcome of the vote also drew criticism toward President Macron’s Renaissance group for its low attendance.
“Where were the Macronists? Gabriel Attal was absent,” wrote Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist Party, on X.
“We were short of one vote — the one that could have stopped the RN,” added Cyrielle Chatelain, head of the Greens parliamentary group.
At the time of the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was attending a forum on sustainable tourism. Ironically, Attal himself had called earlier this year for the 1968 agreement to be revised, arguing that France needed to “set limits and assert its balance of power with Algeria,” especially following the detention of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria.
Growing Calls for Reform
Earlier this month, two MPs from Macron’s party released a report urging the overhaul of the 1968 accord.
“The text and spirit of the 1968 agreement have gradually been diverted from their original intent,” said MP Charles Rodwell during a finance committee hearing. He added that amendments over the years have significantly increased the financial burden on French taxpayers, estimating the annual cost at over €2 billion.
A Divided Assembly
The tight result highlighted deep divisions within the French parliament and across party lines. Attendance was notably low across all political groups — only 30 of the 92 Renaissance MPs were present, with three abstaining.
Although largely symbolic, Thursday’s vote underscores the rising influence of the far right in shaping France’s immigration debate and signals a potentially volatile new chapter in Franco-Algerian relations.
Source: modernghana
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