Dominique de Villepin, who served as French Prime Minister under President Jacques Chirac and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, is currently collecting signatures to run in the upcoming French presidential election. He engaged in a debate with Marion Maréchal, a member of the National Rally party, on the French news channel BFM TV on the night of Thursday, October 22, 2026. Regarding bilateral tensions, de Villepin stated, "The current situation in the relationship with Algeria is unacceptable, and we cannot fail to find common ground with it, but not through confrontation, rather through dialogue." He asked, "To say that this is Algeria's fault, does that move us forward?" Addressing the 1968 agreement, he noted, "You are demanding the cancellation of the 1968 agreement, and at the same time you want Algeria to make concessions to you... How do you do that? You know that the agreement requires at least two parties, and that they must agree to cancel or review it."
Tensions in Political Debate
Marion Maréchal criticized the Algerian community in France during the debate on BFM TV. She labeled some members of the community as "saboteurs" during the exchange. Additionally, she accused these individuals of taking long sick leaves. These remarks followed the discussion regarding the 1968 agreement between the two nations. Dominique de Villepin responded to these assertions by emphasizing the necessity of diplomatic engagement rather than confrontation. The National Rally member maintained her stance on the matter throughout the program.
Dispute Over Immigration Agreements
Dominique de Villepin rejected calls from right-wing politicians to cancel the 1968 immigration agreement between France and Algeria. During the debate on BFM TV, he addressed arguments raised by figures from the National Rally who have sought to unilaterally terminate the treaty. He maintained that the legal framework governing the movement of people between the two nations remains a bilateral matter that cannot be altered by France alone. By opposing the demands for cancellation, he positioned his diplomatic strategy against the approach favored by those who advocate for stricter constraints on Algerian nationals. Dominique de Villepin argued that ignoring the necessity of mutual consent would undermine the possibility of reaching any resolution regarding migration policy. His stance serves as a departure from the rhetoric of right-wing politicians who have prioritized the termination of existing accords as a primary objective in their domestic agenda.
