Just hours after the Assembly vote on 30 October, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told reporters that the 1968 Franco-Algerian accord “belongs to another era” and “must be renegotiated.” While stopping short of advocating outright denunciation, Lecornu said he would instruct the interior and foreign ministries to open exploratory talks with Algiers on a modernised framework that “restores full reciprocity” and better reflects today’s labour-market needs and security context.
Political calculus The minority government faces cross-pressures. Centrist allies see renegotiation as a way to defuse far-right momentum without causing an immediate diplomatic rupture. The left warns that reopening the treaty could erode Algerian community rights and stoke social tensions. LR has signalled conditional support provided new rules tighten family-reunion visas and facilitate removals of Algerians with deportation orders.
Practical impact on mobility programmes Renegotiation could take months or years, but employers should anticipate potential changes to:
• Residence-permit validity (currently 10 years for many Algerians).
• Labour-market test exemptions.
• Salary and degree thresholds for Algerian assignees.
Companies should audit their Algerian talent pipelines, flagging roles that might require alternative visa categories such as “Passeport Talent – Salarié qualifié” if preferential rules disappear.
Diplomatic hurdles & timelines Algeria’s foreign ministry reacted coolly, noting that any changes must be “mutually agreed” and warning against “unilateral actions that would undermine historic ties.” Paris says formal negotiations could start before year-end, with stakeholder consultations—including chambers of commerce and diaspora groups—set for November.
Why it matters The PM’s statement transforms yesterday’s symbolic vote into a concrete policy process, increasing the odds of substantive regulatory change that could reverberate across Franco-Algerian business, student exchange and tourism flows.
Political calculus The minority government faces cross-pressures. Centrist allies see renegotiation as a way to defuse far-right momentum without causing an immediate diplomatic rupture. The left warns that reopening the treaty could erode Algerian community rights and stoke social tensions. LR has signalled conditional support provided new rules tighten family-reunion visas and facilitate removals of Algerians with deportation orders.
Practical impact on mobility programmes Renegotiation could take months or years, but employers should anticipate potential changes to:
• Residence-permit validity (currently 10 years for many Algerians).
• Labour-market test exemptions.
• Salary and degree thresholds for Algerian assignees.
Companies should audit their Algerian talent pipelines, flagging roles that might require alternative visa categories such as “Passeport Talent – Salarié qualifié” if preferential rules disappear.
Diplomatic hurdles & timelines Algeria’s foreign ministry reacted coolly, noting that any changes must be “mutually agreed” and warning against “unilateral actions that would undermine historic ties.” Paris says formal negotiations could start before year-end, with stakeholder consultations—including chambers of commerce and diaspora groups—set for November.
Why it matters The PM’s statement transforms yesterday’s symbolic vote into a concrete policy process, increasing the odds of substantive regulatory change that could reverberate across Franco-Algerian business, student exchange and tourism flows.
