He sets as a condition that relations are “on a basis of equals” and does not want “that we are imposed anything”.
Abdelmadjid Tebboune predicted Friday “a return to normal” relations with France. The Algerian president made this declaration in the midst of a period of crisis between the two countries. This normalization can be done on the condition that relations are “equal to equal”, he insisted.
French President Emmanuel Macron sparked Algiers’ anger after comments, reported on October 2 by Le Monde, accusing the Algerian “politico-military” system of maintaining a “memorial rent”. According to the daily, he questioned the existence of an Algerian nation before French colonization. In protest, Algeria recalled its ambassador to France and banned the overflight of its territory to French military planes serving the Sahel, where the troops of the anti-jihadist operation Barkhane are deployed.
Asked about this diplomatic crisis during an interview with Algerian media broadcast Friday evening by official television, Abdelmadjid Tebboune affirmed that “it is necessary that these relations return to normal, provided that the other party (France ) conceive them on a basis of equals, without provocation”. “We agree to deal with each other so as not to harm the interests of each party, but we will not accept that we are forced to do anything,” added the head of Algerian State.
Local elections this weekend
The French presidency let it be known on November 10 that Emmanuel Macron “regrets the controversies and misunderstandings” with Algeria and claims to have “the greatest respect for the Algerian nation” and “its history”. The head of Algerian diplomacy Ramtane Lamamra welcomed these statements “showing respect” to his country.
In his interview, Abdelmadjid Tebboune also criticized the unprecedented visit made this week by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to Morocco, Algeria’s enemy brother in the Maghreb. Referring to a security cooperation contract signed between Morocco and Israel on this occasion, he denounced a visit “of shame” and spoke of “a threat” against his country.
These positions taken by the Algerian president come as the country goes to the polls this weekend. At the end of a dismal campaign, more than 23 million Algerians elect their local elected representatives this Saturday. This election is considered crucial by the government to turn the page on the end of the eventful reign of the late ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. This is the third election organized under the presidency of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who has pledged to reform all the institutions inherited from the 20-year reign of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, forced to resign in April 2019 under pressure from demonstrations the pro-democracy movement Hirak and the army.
