Candidates of Algerian Origin in the French Municipal Elections

The first round of municipal elections in France kicks off on Sunday, March 15, with approximately 900,000 candidates running on 50,000 lists.

Among the participants in these elections are French citizens of Algerian origin, who appear on several left-wing, independent, and ecologist lists. Their presence is particularly concentrated in areas with large Algerian immigrant populations, such as Paris and its suburbs, Marseille, Lyon, and northern and eastern France.

The motivations for running and participating vary depending on the individuals’ personal paths, but what they share is a desire to work and make an impact at the local level.

Echorouk spoke with Salima Saadi, a candidate on the “Together Metz” list in the northeastern French municipality; Toufik Khiar, head of the “Ecologists” list in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre in the Val-de-Marne department; and Hamdani Amarouche, a candidate on the list supported by leftists and ecologists, “Let’s give new impetus to Combs-la-ville,” in the Île-de-France.

These Franco-Algerian candidates are facing an exceptional situation due to the diplomatic crisis between Algeria and Paris. While some are willing to work towards easing tensions between France and Algeria and building bridges between the two societies, others believe this is beyond their authority as elected officials.

Salima Saadi explains that relations between France and Algeria are primarily a matter for the state and diplomacy, and that local elected officials don’t make foreign policy. “But at the regional level, we can contribute in a very concrete way: through dialogue, mutual understanding, and human exchange. Our cities today are spaces where stories and experiences converge. Through culture, associations, the economy, and local collaborations, we can build very tangible bridges.”

“For me, I’ve always been involved in initiatives that connect regions, whether around the Mediterranean or with several African countries. But I’m very clear about one thing: I don’t speak on behalf of any particular community or country. I’m a French elected official working for my city. And if, through meetings and projects, we can contribute to greater understanding between communities, that’s certainly a positive thing,” Salima Saadi added.

As for Toufik Khiar, he said: “Yes, I sincerely believe that. A complex characterises relations between France and Algeria, and sometimes a painful history, but they are also based on very strong human, cultural, and familial ties. Today, millions of French people have a direct or indirect connection with Algeria. This creates a responsibility, especially for those of us who, like myself, carry this dual culture”.

“This is, in fact, the core of my commitment within the Franco-Algerian Friendship Association, which I chair. This association comprises members of civil society, as well as local and national elected officials, who strive to strengthen relations between our two countries and encourage exchanges between the two,” he added.

“For over four years, we have been organising meetings, discussions, and initiatives aimed at rebuilding ties between French and Algerian civil society. In this context, we participated, in particular, in a delegation to Algeria, in collaboration with the Emir Abdelkader Foundation, during the commemoration of the May 8, 1945 massacres in Sétif, Guelma, and Kherrata—an important moment for remembrance and dialogue. I am convinced that citizen and regional diplomacy can play a crucial role. Local elected officials, associations, and cultural and economic actors can contribute to building tangible bridges between the two societies,” he added.

“For me, descending from this dual history is a responsibility, but also an opportunity. It compels me to work towards building bridges instead of walls, and to remind everyone that the relationship between France and Algeria should not be reduced to current political tensions. It is also a relationship shaped by human stories, shared cultures, and a future that it is in our interest to build together”.

Hamdani Amarouche echoed this sentiment: “This is a subject that deeply concerns me, especially in the current context. Franco-Algerian relations have been experiencing a period of serious turbulence since 2014: the recall of ambassadors, diplomatic tensions over Western Sahara, complex legal cases, and controversies surrounding migration. Some observers have described the current crisis as the most severe since 1962, characterised by an unprecedented intensity of rhetoric and its duration. All of this is true, and it would be naive to deny it.”

He added: “But I refuse to let pessimism be the final word. At the same time, there are signs of hope that must be emphasised,” noting that recent developments in relations between the two countries show that a complete break is neither inevitable nor desirable for the majority of actors on both sides of the Mediterranean.

“This is where the role of local elected officials of French-Algerian origin comes in, not on a diplomatic level, but on a human level, to make relations between the two countries more harmonious. We, the local elected officials, can accelerate this process: by demonstrating that successful integration is a reality, not an exception; by building cultural, educational, and civic ties between the two communities; and by being active participants in reconciling historical memories, rather than being tools for exploiting them,” Hamdani Amarouche explained.

He recalled the 2022 Algiers Declaration, signed by the two heads of state, which set ambitious goals: a strengthened partnership focused on youth, energy, and economic exchange. “These ambitions remain valid; the foundations are in place, what is sometimes lacking is the human touch to revitalise them.”

Hamdani Amarouche concluded, “As a teacher, I work daily to cultivate youth who are open to the world. As a local elected official, if the residents of Combs-la-Ville grant me their trust, I want to contribute to a clearer understanding between France and Algeria, with the certainty that their shared interests outweigh their differences. The two countries are linked by millions of families living in each other’s countries. It is estimated that some 10 to 12% of the French population has ties to Algeria. This is not a weakness, but an exceptional strength, if we choose to see it that way. And I have chosen that unequivocally.”