Trying to warm up relations? While tensions have been observed in recent months between France and Algeria, Emmanuel Macron addressed this Sunday, September 8, to his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune his “warmest congratulations” for his re-election.
Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in office since 2019, was re-elected for a second term with a record score of nearly 95% of the vote, following a poll marked by persistent disaffection among the electorate.
“An exceptional relationship” between France and Algeria
The president of the electoral authority, Mohamed Charfi, announced a victory for Abdelmadjid Tebboune with “94.65% of the vote” and “5.32 million votes” cast, without providing new figures on participation, estimated the day before at “an average rate of 48.03%”.
In a statement published by the Élysée Palace a few hours after the announcement of the results and relayed by the Reuters press agency, Emmanuel Macron stressed that France is “particularly attached to the exceptional relationship” linking it to Algeria.
The President of the Republic intends to “resolutely pursue” with Abdelmadjid Tebboune the “ambitious work” launched with the Algiers Declaration to “renew the partnership” which unites the two countries, added the French presidency.
Relations between France and Algeria became even more strained this summer after Paris said in late July that it considered Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara to be “the only basis” for reaching a negotiated political solution, provoking disapproval from Algiers, which recalled its ambassador to France.
In its press release, the Élysée Palace said it considered dialogue between the two countries “on the regional and international scene” to be “essential”, “particularly in the context of Algeria’s presence on the United Nations Security Council”.
- BFMTV.com
