Is it the right time to criminalize French colonization?

« Exceptional partnership » which was established in 2012 between Algeria and France did not help bilateral relations to maintain their stability. So, Why do French provocations continue towards Algeria even when relations are stable? Is it necessary now to reconsider bilateral relations? Is it time to relaunch the proposition of a law on French colonization criminalization?

Buried project comes back to surface fuelled by Paris’ provocations

Continuous French provocations against Algeria and its symbols raised a debate once again about the necessity of reconsidering bilateral relations. Mutual agreement is totally absent in the political field. Unbalance in interests still marks the economic dimension.

France has recently launched a campaign against the State’s symbols. This shows that Paris does not want bilateral relations to make progress. 

Usually, Algerian-French relations undergo tension when a right-wing president is in power like what happened with French former President Nicolas Sarkozy. Today, a crisis was triggered while executive authority is controlled by left-wing President François Hollande. This raises questions about the reality of this political orientation.

Usually, French left-wing officials show that they are not stuck to the colonial complex. Yet, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls’ recent attitude following his visit to Algiers showed that there is no difference in positions when it comes to Algeria.

So far, questions still surround the background of problems triggered by France. Is it meant to get political or economic advantages or is it just a provocation fuelled by historical factors.

French presidents including Sarkozy and Hollande have always talked about starting a new page and looking forward the future. Because of that, Algeria froze a draft law on the criminalization of colonization. 

New provocations were noticed as Harkis will have a glorifying law. 

It is time to react to those French official and non official provocations by relaunching the draft law on the criminalization of colonization.

Tayeb Houari: we are waiting for France to make an official apology

How do you assess Algerian-French relations? What do you this is behind the crisis and tension between the two countries?

Actually, France’s official attitude shows hate as it refuses or tries to ignore that it deals with independent Algeria. We denounced those provocations. Yet, it seems that Paris has a new destructive dream. Although French businessmen benefited frim advantages, politicians deal with Algiers as a new colonizer. They even interfere in domestic affairs. This pushes us to think of reconsidering bilateral relations. Colonial lobby and Harkis are still trying to put pressure on Algeria to make their dream come true.

Do you think that the crisis would be ended?

I do not think so. France insists on its campaign against Algeria. Each time, it promulgates laws to glorify colonization. Algeria should not keep silent. 

Deputy Moussa Abdi: justifications given by the government to reject the law on the criminalization of colonization are baseless

Algerian-French relations experience a difficult phase. Don’t you think to relaunch your law on the criminalization of colonization? Do you think it would be the right time to do so?

Algerian-French relations always undergo ups and downs. They will remain in tension due to French political instability.

Because of that, deputies seriously think of relaunching the draft law on the criminalization of colonization. It is the right time to do that.

The last constitutional amendment in Algeria came up with new prerogatives. Deputies are allowed to propose new laws. Do you think that it would be helpful?

When we presented the draft law on the criminalization of colonization, we faced a legal vacuum. The constitutional amendment gave us the right to notify the Constitutional Council. If our proposition is rejected again, we will notify the Council.

Were you marginalized due to your proposition?

Some elements in the FLN party threatened me.