65% of French Believe France Lacks Courage in Dealing with Algeria, CSA Poll Reveals
A CSA poll reveals that 65% of French citizens believe France lacks courage in its dealings with Algeria amid diplomatic tensions. Public frustration stems from Algeria’s refusal to repatriate illegal nationals. The survey highlights significant political and age-related divides, suggesting a need for a firmer French government approach, as urgency for resolution escalates.
hassan benyoub 
Paris, March 19, 2025, 9:00 AM PDT – A new CSA poll published on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, by CNEWS, Europe 1, and Le Journal du Dimanche reveals that 65% of French citizens feel France lacks courage in its relations with Algeria. The survey, conducted amid escalating diplomatic tensions, highlights public frustration over Algeria’s refusal to repatriate its nationals illegally residing in France, as reported by Le Figaro and shared on X by @CNEWS.
Poll Findings and Public Sentiment
The poll asked, “Do you think France lacks courage in dealing with Algeria?” Of the respondents, 65% answered “yes,” while only 15% said “no,” and 20% were undecided. This overwhelming majority reflects growing public discontent with France’s diplomatic approach, fueled by Algeria’s firm stance against accepting deportees, despite repeated pressure from the French government, per Reuters. Posts on X, like @FrancePolitics’s, noted the poll as “a wake-up call for policymakers,” while @AlgeriePatriote criticized it as “French overreach.”
The survey, detailed on csa.eu, underscores a national sentiment shaped by historical ties, colonial legacy, and recent geopolitical friction, including France’s July 2024 recognition of Moroccan autonomy over Western Sahara, per BBC News. Web results, such as www.lepoint.fr (March 2025), suggest the poll mirrors broader European concerns about migration and sovereignty.
Age and Socioeconomic Breakdown
The poll revealed age-based variations, with seniors aged 65 and older showing the strongest criticism, at 71% believing France lacks courage. Younger adults aged 25–34 were less critical, with 26% answering “no,” though this remains a minority view within their group, per Le Monde. Socioeconomic status (SES) showed little impact, with 67% of higher SES (CSP+), 64% of lower SES (CSP-), and 63% of inactive respondents agreeing France is insufficiently firm, indicating broad consensus across social strata, as reported on X by @Europe1.
Political Divide
Political affiliations significantly influenced responses. Left-leaning voters were more divided: 53% of Socialist Party supporters, 41% of La France Insoumise (LFI) backers, and 39% of Green Party supporters agreed France lacks courage. In contrast, right-wing voters were overwhelmingly critical, with 85% of Republicans and 86% of National Rally (RN) supporters sharing this view, per Le Parisien. Renaissance (Macron’s party) supporters mirrored the national average at 65%. Undecided responses were higher among left-leaning groups (over 20%) than on the right (under 10%), reflecting political polarization, as noted on X by @JDD.
Government Response and Diplomatic Context
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, speaking on Sud Radio Wednesday, advocated a “graduated response” to Algeria, suggesting measures to signal “France is not the aggressor,” per France24. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, on X, called for “a more constructive and balanced relationship” with Algiers, per Le Figaro. These statements come amid strained ties, marked by visa disputes, the detention of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, and the Mulhouse knife attack, as reported by Euronews (March 2025).
Algeria’s refusal to accept deportees has prompted France to suspend the 2007 visa-free agreement for Algerian diplomatic passports, per The Guardian. Posts on X, like @FranceDiplo’s, defend France’s position, while @AlgeriePatriote accuses Paris of “hostility.”
Implications and Regional Dynamics
The poll’s findings could pressure the French government to adopt a harder stance, aligning with public opinion, as suggested in a March 2025 Carnegie Endowment report on Franco-Algerian relations. With 65% public support for firmness, Retailleau and Barrot’s cautious approaches may face scrutiny, per Politico.eu. The tension reflects broader European debates on migration and sovereignty, per The Economist’s March 2025 analysis.
As of 9:00 AM PDT, no official Algerian response has emerged, but the poll underscores the urgency for diplomatic resolution, risking further escalation if unresolved.
