While the Franco-Algerian writer, arrested in mid-November in his native country, has been arbitrarily retained on the spot for 171 days, the deputies have largely adopted the text of their renaissance colleague Constance le Grip.
An opposition that does not go unnoticed. This Tuesday afternoon, in the National Assembly, the rebellious people decided to go further than they had done in the past by voting squarely against the proposal for resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Boualem Sansal, Franco-Algerian writer arbitrarily arrested in mid-November in his native country and retained on the spot for 171 days. While they had abstained in committee (European Affairs and Foreign Affairs) a few weeks ago, the Mélenchonists this time opposed the text, which they widely criticized. Nevertheless, the text was approved by a large majority, by 307 votes to 28, thanks to macronists, to the LR right, the RN, but also to the socialists, to environmentalists. The Communists have abstained. “”ShameHas yelled the lepenist deputies, whistling the rebellious who left the hemicycle after the election.
“It is very important that the National Assembly rises and sends a clear and unambiguous message, an appeal to the Algerian authorities to the immediate and without conditions of Boualem Sansal”welcomes the Figarothe deputy Constance Le Grip (Renaissance), at the origin of this initiative. The elected judge “inconceivable” that this “Emblematic figure of La Francophonie is deprived of its fundamental rights”. “We are not forgetting it. Our vote is a gesture of humanity and a recall of the main principles to which the deputies must recall their attachment ”she still pleads. In front of her colleagues, the Ile -de -France parliamentarian had already passed the same message on Monday evening, judging that “Boualem Sansal cannot be the scapegoat” Degraded diplomatic relations between Paris and Algiers.
The left criticizes the text of “stirring political tensions” between France and Algeria
Despite this, part of the left benches did not wish to associate with this initiative. “Boualem Sansal must be released. We cannot accept that a writer is detained for his ideas or for his words. (…) However, this resolution is not content to ask for its release. Under the guise of defense of fundamental freedoms, it stirs up political tensions between France and Algeria ”denounced the rebellious Nathalie Oziol, regretting that the text presented “Nourished the media and political escalation initiated by Bruno Retailleau and the extreme right”. “In this text, there is no longer a question of Boualem Sansal but the number of visas that France should grant to the Algerians. It is out of the question for us to validate this type of proposal, we leave this to nostalgic colonization and the heirs of the OAS ”she continued.
-“The place of a writer is never in prison”also criticized his colleague from the Greens Dominique Voynet, before regretting “The tone” of the resolution which bears according to her “The risk of a symbolic escalation”. And the environmentalist to regret what she considers to be a “Political instrumentalization of the right and the extreme right”. This did not prevent the deputies of his group from voting favorably this text. The Communists, who abstained, also accused some parliamentarians of not “Not miss an opportunity to recover”.
The socialists, who had abstained two months ago, finally also decided to review their position in public session, and to vote «pour» This Tuesday afternoon. “We do not want an abstention to be misinterpreted by a part of public opinion, which does not fall into detail of the explanations for voting”anticipated before the election the deputy ps Pierre Pribetich, with the Figaro. While criticizing at the same time those he accuses of politicizing this proposal for resolution: “Obviously we are” for the immediate and unconditional release of Boualem Sansal “. On the other hand, we regret that some deputies have served this text to make a list of exorbitant race by showing their will to ban relations with Algeria ”. And add: “There is of course a debate to have on the relationship of France with Algeria, but why mix it with our desire to see Boualem Sansal Libéré?” It must be said that the text adopted at the Assembly actually includes many paragraphs with more diplomatic accents, including in particular one to call the French government as well as the European Commission to “Ensuring that future European funds to Algeria are accompanied by substantial progress in matters of law and individual freedoms”.
“Not a gesture of provocation”
The rapporteur of the text, Constance Le Grip, has however reassured her colleagues several times on the content of the text. “Neither an act of distrust nor a gesture of provocation” With regard to Algeria, she promised. During the debates, several deputies, including the benches of the RN and the LR right, tried to amend the text. And the exchanges then tense, even sometimes clearly won over. “What is it required apart from its release?” Nothing. It is now necessary to release it and say things ”regretted the Lepéniste deputy Laurent Jacobelli. “When our far left colleagues speak of instrumentalization, they are the ones who try to give birth to unnecessary controversies”stated his colleague Sébastien Chenu (RN). Before attacking, looking at the rebellious: “You like the Algerian Marxist Inspiration Diet so you shouldn’t shake them up. You will have a hell of a responsibility if Boualem Sansal were to die in the Algerian jails ”. Éric Ciotti, for his part, judged the opposition of the rebellious to this text “Shameter and scandalous”.
The Minister of Europe, Benjamin Haddad also moved from the positions of the left, and in particular rebellious, regretting “Self -hate amendments” and «repentance». “There is no longer any limit in indecency Mr. Lachaud”he notably tanceled against an LFI deputy. Tensions that have expressed themselves to the final vote of the text. But not to the point of preventing the Assembly from sending a clear message: yes, France calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Boualem Sansal.
