Jacques Serais, edited by Antoine Terrel 7:35 am, October 17, 2021, modified at 7:35 am, October 17, 2021

By qualifying the events of October 17, 1961 as "inexcusable crimes for the Republic", Emmanuel Macron took a new step in the commemoration of this day of repression during which dozens of Algerians were killed.

But some associations ask him to go even further. 

TO ANALYSE

He went further than his predecessors.

Saturday, Emmanuel Macron participated in an official ceremony for the 60th anniversary of the massacre of Algerians on October 17, 1961 in Paris.

If he did not speak, he denounced in a press release "inexcusable crimes for the Republic".

The Head of State also recognized for the first time that the toll of the violence of this tragic day was much heavier than the official toll.

A position expected by many associations, and which is in line with the memorial policy led by Emmanuel Macron, which makes it a balancing act.

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The President of the Republic is pursuing his strategy of "at the same time".

On the one hand, he had made this historic gesture towards the harkis, asking their forgiveness on September 20, and recognizing an abandonment of the French Republic.

On the other hand, he is taking this unprecedented step for the Algerian community. 

Macron does not go far enough according to some associations

Because never a French head of state had commemorated the events of October 17, 1961, and the use of the term of "crimes" is also a first.

In 2012, François Hollande, then president, described this event as "bloody repression".

On Saturday, Emmanuel Macron therefore went much further.

But this is not enough for some actors.

Several officials of associations of victims of October 17 regret that only the Paris Police Prefect Maurice Papon is appointed, and that the tragedy is not recognized as a state crime.

This is also the demand of the left parties who take part in a march on Sunday afternoon in Paris.

Conversely, Marine Le Pen criticizes the Head of State, who according to her, "continues to belittle our country" with these "repeated repentances".

The proof that on such divisive questions, the "at the same time" is far from unanimous.