France denies setting visa quotas for Algerians amid political backlash
via Algérie3603 min read
Statements by the French Ambassador to Algiers, Stéphane Romatet, suggesting a return to 250,000 annual visas for Algerian nationals have sparked controversy in France. Right-wing and far-right politicians, including Bruno Retailleau, have criticized the idea, with Retailleau linking visa issuance to the release of journalist Christophe Gleizes. The Quai d'Orsay, France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has since denied any specific numerical targets for visa issuance, stating that while relations with Algiers are being re-engaged, they are guided solely by France's interests. The ministry clarified that the visa issue is not central to current discussions and no numerical objective has been validated. Before a diplomatic crisis, France issued approximately 250,000 visas annually to Algerians, a number that significantly decreased during the two-year period of strained relations. Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for Europe, reiterated that there is no numerical objective, quota, or trajectory being discussed regarding visas. He emphasized that French diplomacy prioritizes France's interests, including migration, security, combating drug trafficking, and the case of Christophe Gleizes, a French journalist imprisoned in Algeria. Haddad stated that any progress in relations would be conditional on concrete results, and the visa issue would be addressed later in a pragmatic and reversible manner.
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