The Minister of Interior of France, Bruno Retailleau, has announced that the country is set to suspend visa-free travel for Algerian diplomatic passport holders.
Such an announcement from Minister Retailleau came after Algeria rejected a list of Algerian nationals that France wants to expel from its territory, Schengen.News reports.
On Monday, the Algerian authorities rejected the list that contains around 60 Algerians who face deportation. These Algerian nationals, according to the French authorities, are considered dangerous and pose a threat to the national security of France.
However, the Algerian authorities said that they have decided not to follow up on the list submitted by the French authorities while inviting France to follow “the usual channel”.
This response has further worsened the ongoing diplomatic tension between the two countries.
Immediately after this event, Minister Retailleau said France would take a graduated response against Algeria, announcing the suspension of the 2007 agreements under which Algerian diplomatic holders have been enjoying visa-free travel privileges, Le Monde explains.
However, he did not reveal when the measure would become effective, meaning that the suspension is yet to take place following a final decision by the French government.
I regret that Algeria refuses to apply international law. As decided by the Interministerial Committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, a graduated response will be undertaken.
Multiple Refusals to Repatriate Expelled Nationals Have Worsened France-Algeria Relationship
Due to a number of refusals from the Algerian authorities to take back its nationals who have received an order to leave the French territory, the diplomatic tension between France and Algeria has significantly worsened.
In response to these refusals by Algeria, France took measures to restrict the entry and movement of Algerian diplomatic holders.
However, taking into account the most recent refusal, it means that the previous measure has not had much effect, pushing France to move on with the suspension of the visa-free travel agreement for this group of travellers altogether.
While France is aiming to target only diplomatic passport holders, some have suggested that stricter visa rules should apply to all Algerians, including regular passport holders.
A recent CSA poll has found that 84 per cent of French nationals support the total visa suspension for Algerians.
According to the respondents who took part in the poll, a total visa suspension would pressure Algeria into taking back its nationals who have received an order to leave the country.
Similar to the majority of respondents, the leader of the French far-right National Rally party, Jordan Bardella has also supported visa suspension for Algerians. He proposed a “zero visa” policy for this nationality.