France: Retailleau Threatens Resignation if Paris Yields to Algiers on Expulsion Dossier
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has threatened to resign if the government softens its policies amid escalating tensions with Algeria over expelling dangerous nationals. Retailleau's hardline stance is supported by the Prime Minister but conflicts with President Macron's more cautious approach. The situation tests Franco-Algerian relations and Retailleau's political future.
hassan benyoub 
Paris, March 15, 2025 – French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has issued a stark ultimatum, threatening to resign if the government softens its stance in an escalating standoff with Algeria over the expulsion of Algerian nationals deemed dangerous. In an exclusive interview with Le Parisien published Saturday, Retailleau underscored his hardline approach, signaling that any capitulation to Algiers could end his tenure.
A Line in the Sand
“I was long the only one in the government advocating this power struggle,” Retailleau told Le Parisien. “This Friday, alongside my Foreign Affairs colleague, we transmitted to Algerian authorities an initial list of Algerians who pose a danger and whom we want expelled.” The list, containing around 60 names, marks a tangible escalation in France’s “graduated response” strategy, launched after Algeria’s repeated refusal to accept deportees, including high-profile cases like the January return of influencer Doualemn.
Retailleau framed his position as now government policy: “My line—confrontation with Algeria—is the government’s line. If Algeria doesn’t take back its dangerous nationals, we’ll enact a graduated reprisal. But if it honors the 1994 accords, the issue will be resolved.” He cited the February 22 Mulhouse attack, where an Algerian national on a terror watchlist killed one person, as a non-negotiable red line. “I don’t want a second Mulhouse,” he warned.
Tensions at a Breaking Point
The threat follows Friday’s submission of the expulsion list, a move Retailleau and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot hope will pressure Algiers into compliance. Posts on X from March 14 reflect Retailleau’s resolve, with @BFMTV quoting him: “It’s a test of truth for Algeria.” Yet, his resignation gambit—unprecedented in this crisis—underscores internal and external stakes. Relations with Algeria, already frayed since France’s July 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, hit a “quasi-rupture” after Algiers rejected the Mulhouse attacker and others, prompting Retailleau’s earlier calls for visa restrictions and a review of the 1968 migration pact.
Government Unity or Fracture?
Retailleau’s stance aligns with Prime Minister François Bayrou’s February 26 ultimatum—giving Algiers four to six weeks to cooperate or face consequences—but clashes with President Emmanuel Macron’s more measured tone. Macron, wary of losing anti-terrorism cooperation, urged de-escalation in late February, telling reporters, “Talking through the press is ridiculous.” This divergence has fueled speculation of a cabinet rift, with Retailleau’s resignation threat amplifying his leverage within a coalition balancing right-wing Les Républicains and centrist voices.
Posts on X, like @CerfiaFR’s March 2 warning of “riposte” if Algiers provokes further, echo Retailleau’s rhetoric, though his readiness to walk away is new. Analysts suggest this could force Macron’s hand, risking either a hardened policy or a public fracture if concessions are made.
What’s Next?
Algeria’s response remains uncertain as of 10:08 AM PDT today. Its foreign ministry previously dismissed French “disinformation” in January, and consular ties with southern French cities reportedly snapped this week—claims unconfirmed officially. Retailleau’s exit, if triggered, could reshape France’s immigration and foreign policy, emboldening far-right critics like Marine Le Pen, who in January praised Trump’s tariff threats as a model for dealing with Algiers. For now, the dossier tests both Franco-Algerian ties and Retailleau’s political survival.
