The spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay, Christophe Lemoine, reacts on franceinfo to the comments of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the return of an influencer expelled to Algeria by France.
Published on 11/01/2025 19:56
Reading time: 2min
“For some time, the Algerian authorities have adopted a fairly hostile attitude towards France”according to the spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay, Christophe Lemoine, guest on franceinfo on Saturday January 11. He was reacting to the comments of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the return to Paris of an influencer expelled to his country by France. Algeria rejects accusations “climbing” et “humiliation of France” et denounced a “disinformation campaign” against Algeria.
“There is no misinformation in this entire sequence”assures Christophe Lemoine. “We have a relationship with the Algerians that is very long, historic, very dense, with a lot of exchanges”adds the spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay. “We have many partnership issues on which we are working and we want to base the relationship we have with Algeria on a future perspective.”
However, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes that “we have reached an extremely worrying threshold with Algeria”and that “the episode of the dismissal of the Algerian influencer this week is an element which worsened the situation” between the two countries. A decision “stunning”, believes Christophe Lemoine.
On the French side, the spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay repeats that the “posture of dialogue […] still exists in Paris”, and that this relationship between the two countries “deserves seriousness in terms”, “it must be serious, open and frank” and who “must normally be able to function on the basis of dialogue, exchanges, solutions found together”.
Christophe Lemoine prefers not to comment on the duration of this diplomatic crisis: “It’s difficult to say. There are several elements in recent weeks which show a certain stiffening on the part of Algiers.” On the possible levers that France has to respond to Algeria, “this is a reflection which is underway between the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and particularly its Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and the Ministry of the Interior”, explains Christophe Lemoine.
