Algeria Decided Beforehand On Its Chosen “Candidate” In French Presidential Polls

The recent statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ramtane Lamamra, in which he said: “Emmanuel Macron is a friend of Algeria”, can be construed by many that Algeria has already defined its position in the race for the second round of the French presidential elections, expected on the seventh of May 2017.

Such statements are rare in the diplomatic doctrine of Algeria, which used to adopt self-sufficiency in such cases, thus making the statement by the head of Algerian diplomacy on the French presidential election, being considered a new trend in the country’s foreign policy line.

If Lamamra’s statement appears to be of a diplomatic nature, those familiar with the international relations will see this statement as a message to the Algerian community residing in France to vote for candidate Emmanuel Macron in order to stymie his rival Marine Le Pen in the second round of voting.

It should be noted that Emmanuel Macron visited Algeria last February as a candidate and received a special welcome by senior officials in the country. 

Mr Emmanuel Macron then described the visit as “presidential” and made unprecedented remarks on “Echorouk News” TV about the heinous French colonization of Algeria, by bluntly branding such colonization as a crime against humanity.

Such unprecedented assertions made in Algiers prompted many observers to suggest that Emmanuel Macron will be the most appropriate candidate likely to protect Algeria’s vested interests in France, which has special relations with Algeria for historical reasons.

The same observers duly believe that the worrying presence of right-wing extremist Marine Le Pen in the May 7th run-off vote, has made it easier for Algeria to choose its presidential candidate namely Mr Macron without any reservation or regret.