French Ambassador's Push to Restore Algerian Visa Levels Draws Sharp Right‑Wing Backlash

Overview

• In an interview published in mid-July, Ambassador Stéphane Romatet said France seeks to speed up visas to Algerians and has an objective of getting visa volumes back toward the pre‑crisis level of about 250,000 a year, a claim he framed as his goal rather than a formal government target.
• The Quai d'Orsay quickly clarified that no specific numeric objective has been set and that visa issuance to Algerian nationals is not presently a formal item under negotiation with Algiers.
• Right‑wing and far‑right leaders including Jordan Bardella, Bruno Retailleau and Éric Ciotti condemned Romatet's remarks as a capitulation and demanded concrete conditions such as Algeria’s readmission of people under removal orders and the release of jailed French journalist Christophe Gleizes.
• Diplomats and officials warn of a policy paradox because France wants to increase visas even though Algeria still rarely issues the laissez‑passer documents needed to readmit nationals ordered to leave France; France also says a >20% drop in visas in 2025 reflected reduced consular staffing during the rupture.
• The episode follows a crisis that began in summer 2024 over Western Sahara, includes ministerial contacts and the ambassador’s return to Algiers in May, and could reshape the domestic migration debate and bilateral cooperation on security, justice and the economy.