Olivier Le Court Grandmaison: “Macron Should Embody His Statements In Algeria About Criminalizing Colonialism”

University professor, Olivier Lecour Grandmaison expressed his hope that French President Emmanuel Macron would embody his words “after his statement in Algiers when he considered the French colonialism a crime against humanity”.

“When the French President Emmanuel Macron was candidate to presidential elections he said during his move to Algiers that colonialism is a crime against humanity, and he should reflect his words by emphasizing it this time in France and for the entire colonial period.

However, he did not hide his doubts about the will of the French president to overcome his statements, which caused a stir, especially from the parties of the right and the extreme right and anti-Algerian associations. 

“In such a context, it is unlikely that the Macron will embody his words because he is afraid that his statements will contradict his candidacy as a current head of state”, confirming that the leaders of the left, like the candidates for the former presidential Elections, Benoit Hamon and Jean Luc Mélenchon can not accurately assess the past of French colonialism and draw the appropriate conclusions about recognizing the crimes that were committed in that era”.

In this context, he mentioned two prominent figures, who are John Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683), who is one of the key ministers during the reign of Louis XVI, who is caused of black traffic, and the General Thomas Robert Bugeaud (1784-1849), noting that the first person is the creator of the Black Law of 1685 which was the first to codify Slavery during the reign of Louis XVI.

Today, slavery in France is considered a crime against humanity, and the second committed in the 1840s war crimes and crimes against humanity in Algeria.

“The official recognition of the senior authorities of the state is a strong signal and encouragement for a comprehensive study of the history of the French colonialism”, he concluded.

French President, Emmanuel Macron, did not hesitate to describe colonialism as a crime against humanity when he said: “Colonialism is part of the French history … It is a crime, a crime against humanity. It is a real atrocity and it is part of this past that we must face by apologizing to those we have committed these practices, and this was during an interview with Echorouk News, during a visit to Algeria, which is a statement that was not preceded by any of the French politicians, which caused a sensation in the French political scene that is preoccupied with the French presidential race at the time.