From the floor of the National Assembly, a deputy from France Insoumise (LFI) accused the French government of «multiplying provocations and threats against Algeria, particularly concerning Western Sahara, in contradiction with international law». This statement was met with applause from fellow LFI parliamentarians. This declaration marks a departure from the silence maintained for months by the group led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon regarding President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. This recognition was formalized in a letter to King Mohammed VI on July 30. The decision drew swift condemnation from France's Socialist and Communist parties. In contrast, Génération.s deputy Karim Ben Cheikh praised the move, describing it as a «clarification» by the French president on the Sahara issue. During a visit to regions affected by the Al Haouz earthquake on October 4, 2023, Mélenchon remarked on the presence of «new parameters (on the Sahara issue, editor's note) which the French should, no doubt, reflect on more carefully. The positions taken by the United States, Israel, and Spain have changed the way the world looks at this issue. I hope that my country understands this and that, in any case, we don't turn it into an issue for quarrelling with Moroccans». The Tangier native urged the French government «to show some realism». His comments come at a time when official reconciliation between Rabat and Paris has yet to be confirmed.
