The proposal was supported by 67 French deputies, and 11 deputies from the ranks of the far-right National Rally opposed it (European Archives)
Today, Thursday, the French National Assembly (Parliament) adopted a resolution proposal that “denounces the bloody and murderous repression against Algerians under the authority of Police Director Maurice Papon on October 17, 1961” in Paris, in which between 30 and more than 200 peaceful demonstrators were killed, according to historians.
The proposal was supported by 67 deputies, and 11 from the ranks of the far-right National Rally opposed it. The text "wishes" to "include a day to commemorate this massacre" in the "table of national days and official ceremonies."
The resolution proposal was presented by the representative of the Green Party, Sabrina Sabahi, and the representative of the presidential majority, Julie Delpech, and Sabaihi welcomed in advance the “historic vote” which constitutes “a first step in working to recognize this colonial crime and acknowledge this state crime.”
The phrase “state crime” does not appear in the text, the drafting of which required repeated discussions with the French presidency, while issues related to memory still greatly affect relations between France and Algeria.
It is noteworthy that on this day 63 years ago, about 30,000 Algerians who came to demonstrate peacefully in Paris were subjected to violent repression by the police. According to the official toll, there were 3 dead and about 60 wounded, but historians estimate the number of victims at “at least dozens.”
In October 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron began to acknowledge these facts, considering that “the crimes committed on October 17, 1961 under the authority of Maurice Papon are unforgivable for the Republic.”
In 2012, French Socialist President François Hollande commemorated the “victims of the bloody repression” to which these demonstrators for the “right to independence” were subjected.
Source: French