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Agreement with Algeria: What If Édouard Philippe’s Exit on Immigration Was Just a Publicity Stunt?

Édouard Philippe, in his mayor’s office in Le Havre. Francois BOUCHON / Le Figaro

In an interview with the Express, the former Prime Minister advocates the questioning of a 1968 agreement with Algeria on migration issues. The essayist Maxime Tandonnet sees it as a communication operation, with the aim of marking his return to the front of the political scene.

A keen observer of French political life and columnist for FigaroVox, Maxime Tandonnet has notably published André Tardieu. The Misunderstood (Perrin, 2019) and Georges Bidault: from the Resistance to French Algeria (Perrin, 2022).

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In the political imagination of the French, Édouard Philippe occupies a special place. Since his appointment as Prime Minister, following the presidential election in May 2017, until his departure from Matignon three years later, President Macron’s former head of government has been at the top of the most popular political figures. , according to all the polls. The latest Odexa public Senate gratifies him with 38% of good opinions, ahead of Marine le Pen (36%). Certainly, it would be excessive to speak of a national enthusiasm in his favor, but in terms of relative popularity, the domination of Édouard Philippe over the entire political class now seems to be firmly established.

However, the record of government policy, in the years that coincide with its action at Matignon, can hardly explain this popularity, even if it is obviously not solely responsible for it. For the most part, historians will remember three events from this period. The first is the renunciation of enforcing the authority of the State concerning the construction of the airport of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, in the face of the zadists. The second is the outbreak of the “yellow vests” crisis: several months of violence and destruction, wanting to impose the carbon tax and the speed limit of 80 km/h – before giving up. The third is the chaotic beginning of the management of the Covid-19 health crisis, in particular the psychodrama of masks and the establishment of an Absurdistan of sinister memory (exit certificates, repression, escalation of useless bullying such as the ban on beaches and the closing of bookstores).

While the crisis of confidence of the French towards the political world reaches its climax […] the former first head of government of President Macron is generally considered to have “clean hands”.Maxime Tandonnet

His positions in the public debate since 2020 are not likely to promote this popularity either. Did Édouard Philippe not plead for a retirement age of 67, when 80% of French people are opposed to the passage from 62 to 64 (which they consider both unnecessary, given of the rule of 43 annuities, and unfair since weighing on popular France entering the labor market before the age of 21)? The paradox is striking…

So how was this relative popularity able to impose itself and become part of the French political landscape? One of his reasons could be the reputation of integrity of Mr. Philippe who is not known to have been implicated in cases of corruption. While the crisis of confidence of the French towards the political world reaches its climax, the indictments and the convictions affecting many leaders of this country, the former first head of government of President Macron is generally considered to have “clean hands “. Added to this are undoubtedly qualities of communication, an indefinable air of sympathy, consensual, which emerges from his television appearances, like a sort of Chiraquian reminiscence. Finally, four years in advance, part of the public seems to have internalized, by dint of media hype and polls, that he could be the successor of Emmanuel Macron (not renewable) in the presidential election of 2027 to represent the camp “very progressive and Europeanist” in his announced duel against “conspiratorial, nationalist or populist evil”. It is no coincidence that the popularity polls place Madame le Pen just after him, anticipating the expected duel… and probably its result…

The former Prime Minister thus seems to mark his return to the fore with a political spectacle, in keeping with the most usual image given by politics today in France.Maxime Tandonnet

The presidential election of 2027, let’s talk about it… After years of relative discretion, Mr. Edouard Philippe has just chosen to return to the fray by getting involved, through an interview given to the Express, in the debate on immigration. He was reacting to the muscular constitutional revision project of the LR right while distancing himself from the worrying record of Macron’s first five-year term on this subject (notwithstanding his own responsibility for three years). In an attempt to make an impression, he chose as the dominant theme of his proposals the questioning of the Franco-Algerian agreement of 1968. Admittedly, the subject is sensitive for reasons relating to the history and importance of the population resulting from Algerian immigration to France. On the other hand, this emblematic agreement is of no real interest in terms of controlling migratory flows. It has been revised several times with a view to convergence with common law for foreigners and therefore has some differences, sometimes to the advantage and sometimes to the detriment of Algerians in France compared to nationals of other nationalities. Above all, this agreement does not concern the right of asylum (and its diversion), nor the tools for combating illegal immigration, nor the repression of slavery in the Mediterranean, which are the real subjects of the day.

In short, the former Prime Minister thus seems to be marking his return to the fore with a political spectacle, in keeping with the most usual image given by politics today in France, explaining an abstention rate of 54% in the last legislative elections and a rate of distrust that exceeds 80% (Cevipof). And if the French, scalded by the permanent Grand Guignol that political life has become, dominated by narcissistic outbursts, hysterical side effects, and sterile provocations, expected something quite different from democracy?

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