This agreement organizes the entry, residence and employment of Algerians in France, according to rules derogating from ordinary law. On some points, Algerians are favoured over other foreigners (especially in terms of family reunification), on others they lose out (especially for students).

This text "completely determines the law applicable to the entry and residence of Algerian nationals, with stipulations that are much more favorable than ordinary law. This is a very clear feature. No national of another state enjoys such benefits," said the former prime minister.

"Of course, there are extremely powerful historical relations between France and Algeria, but maintaining such a system today with a country with which we have complicated relations no longer seems justified to me," Philippe said.

In this interview, the president of Horizons evokes an "immigration of the fait accompli" in France, with "a very strong acceleration of the increase in the number of foreigners" since the early 2000s. And "the geographical origin of foreigners, too, has changed," with a greater proportion of foreigners coming from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

"During this period, the French population increased by 9% and the number of foreigners increased by 53%. And nothing in this evolution corresponds to a political choice or a decision that we would have taken, "continues the mayor of Le Havre.

Integration, Islam and Work

Mr. Philippe attacks "three unsaid" in terms of immigration: "First, we say that we want fewer foreigners in France but when a number of our fellow citizens say so, they are actually targeting people who are French, sometimes for three generations. It is not the control of the entry of foreigners into France that will solve this problem. It is a subject of integration, education, citizenship."

"The second unspoken is Islam," which has become "a central subject, a disturbing subject, a haunting subject."

"Finally, there is the unspoken work. Many French people find that there are too many foreigners in France, but in Parisian restaurants, in the tourist industry, in the agricultural sector, in a whole series of economic sectors that are not in crisis and that are essential to French success, we rely on a very impressive number of foreigners, "says Mr. Philippe.

The former Prime Minister says he is "very supportive of the proposals made by Gérald Darmanin and Olivier Dussopt", while the executive is seeking ways of a parliamentary majority with LR on the immigration component. "This law is necessary, but I know it is not enough," he said.

He says he is "opposed to any massive regularization and favorable to the principle proposed by Olivier Dussopt: to allow people exercising professional activities in sectors where the national interest requires to be able to continue to do so. I would prefer this regularization to be done on a case-by-case basis."

Mr. Philippe said he understood "the objective pursued by LR", which wants to modify the Constitution in order to be able to derogate from European and international law, but "this proposal is not satisfactory in its modalities. It would be interpreted for what it is, i.e. a form of legal Frexit."

© 2023 AFP