Demands To Investigate French Ambassador’s “Suspicious” Meetings With Party Leaders

Parliamentarian, Kamel Belarbi, has urged Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sabri Boukadoum, to open an investigation into the movements of the French ambassador to Algeria, Francois Gouyette, and his frequent meetings with officials and heads of political parties in the country, calling on the latter to reveal the contents of these meetings, and not to be satisfied with constructive data, as he put it.

In a correspondence, the parliamentarian, Kamel Belarbi, the author of the proposal for the criminalization of colonialism project, addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sabri Boukadoum, asking him to investigate the movements of the French ambassador to Algeria, Francois Gouyette, which, according to him, became suspicious, especially as they came frequently, and with personalities of political party leaders and economic operators.

He said in a post on his official page, “It is necessary to stop these actions, and as a deputy in the National People’s Assembly, one of the representatives of the Algerian people, and in accordance with the constitution and all relevant laws of the Republic, I address a clear question and inquiry to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and all agencies related to the work of diplomatic missions for an immediate and serious investigation into the suspicious and continuous movements of the French ambassador in Algeria, who became the focus of everyone’s attention.

The MP in the National People’s Assembly added that the French ambassador in Algeria went beyond the norm, when “the order came to him that two days ago he sent an economic delegation from the French embassy that visited Benhammadi factories in Blida!”

The MP was surprised at what he described as “the suspicious hospitality with which this ambassador receives!”, and this made him wonder “what is happening exactly,” adding: “The meetings of the French ambassador with many actors in the political arena come continuously and suspiciously at the same time” for any diplomatic envoy in Algeria as does the French ambassador, who almost toured the leaderships of political parties and a number of ministers and toured many cities.

Based on the aforementioned data, Belarbi said, “We officially call on the official authorities involved in the file, including political parties, as well as ministers and even economic dealers who met the French ambassador recently to inform the public opinion of the details and contents of these meetings in a detailed and accurate manner”.

He stressed that “they must be frank with the Algerian people and inform the latter publicly about what was discussed with the French ambassador, because the matter is no longer just a normal meeting that brings together an ambassador with officials in the country.” The parliamentarian said that any future French moves in Algeria should be followed up by all legal or political means.

For reference, MP Kamel Belarbi previously submitted a draft proposal to criminalize French colonialism in the National People’s Assembly, but this file remained in limbo in the drawers of the lower chamber of Parliament, which prompted the latter to direct his initiative to the people – as he said – in order to pressure it to be adopted.