French President Emmanuel Macron said France had set no numerical target for visas issued to Algerian citizens and was showing “no laxity” on the issue, distancing himself from comments by France’s ambassador to Algiers that had been interpreted as signalling an easing of visa restrictions.
Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said Macron made the remarks during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting after comments by French Ambassador Stephane Romatet triggered criticism from conservative and far-right politicians in France.
“The president of the republic wanted to correct the remarks of our ambassador in Algeria, which have been widely circulated in recent days, particularly regarding the number of visas,” Bregeon told reporters.
“There is no numerical objective regarding visas and there is no laxity on France’s part,” she quoted Macron as saying.
The clarification comes amid attempts by Algeria to to rebuild ties with France.
Algeria had triggered the crisis last year when it took a series of hostile measures in retaliation for a French sovereign decision to back Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory, where Algeria had for decades nurtured chimera to create a separatist entity.
Algia had recalled its ambassador from Paris and relations kept deteriorating since July 2024, further amid disputes over migration, visa policy and security issues, including the arrest in France of an Algerian consular official accused in connection with the abduction of a government critic, a case that led to reciprocal diplomatic expulsions.
Relations further worsened following the arrest by Algerian authorities of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal- who was released following pressure from Paris- and the continued detention of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes.
