Algerian government bets on Macron’s ascent to power in France

The Algerian government bets on the winning of French presidential nominee Emmanuel Macron during the coming run-off round of Algerian presidential elections scheduled to be held on May 7. The centrist candidate is viewed as a winning card by the Algerian government, as he expressed his keenness to move forward a number of controversial issues between the two countries.

Political analysts believe that Macron is considered the best choice of the Algerian government to improve the economic relations between the two countries and to resolve the controversial issues related to the historic differences that date back to colonial era. Macron was keen to acknowledge the crimes committed by the French colonialism against the Algerian people.

He said, in statements to Algerian satellite channel last February, “colonialism is a major part of French history. It was a crime against humanity. This crime should be confronted through apologizing for what we committed during this era.”

The occupation of Algiers was additionally designed to enhance the declining prestige of the French monarchy. Before the plans for the consolidation and extension of French rule could be put into effect, however, the Bourbon dynasty and its government were overthrown by revolution. In 1830, the French decided to continue the occupation and set out on a full scale invasion of Algiers and imposed their French rule. Algiers was captured after three weeks and France annexed the rest of the occupied areas in 1834.

During the conquest, the French troops were known to have looted, raped and massacred entire villages, desecrated mosques and destroyed cemeteries. This was also done during the "Penetration Pacifique" of Algeria when the French expanded from the coast into the southern rural areas. This conquest was completed by the suppression of the independent Berber republics of Kabylia in 1857. Algeria was declared an integral part of French territory and French citizens in Algeria were able to elect deputies to the Assembly in Paris. Algerians however were made into automatic French subjects and were not given the same rights as the pied noirs.

Algerian analyst Ismail Dabish said that Macron’s statements reflected that he realizes the importance of Algeria as an ally in the light of the current approach adopted by the Algerian government to expand its relations with the other countries, including America and Russia.

Many experts believe that the relations between France and Algeria witnessed notable progress during the era of France’s President Francois Hollande who worked to provide support for the Algerian economy during the recent period. The officials of the two countries were keen to exchange the visits to discuss many issues on both diplomatic and economic sides.

The French investments in Algeria witnessed notable increase by $ two billion during the era of President Hollande. The Algerian government managed to polarize a number of French investors during the recent period, as the French institutions working in Algeria witnessed notable increase during the recent period.