Attack in Mulhouse: Jordan Bardella denounces "a new humiliation for France"

The National Rally on the offensive. After the knife attack this Saturday in Mulhouse that cost the life of a man and injured three municipal police officers, Jordan Bardella raised his voice, targeting the profile of the suspect. The alleged assailant, a 37-year-old Algerian, was under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF).

"This is a new humiliation for France," said the party leader during his trip to the Agricultural Show on Monday, February 24, calling for "ensuring that no more visas are issued to Algerian nationals."

The suspect was convicted in 2023 for condoning terrorism following comments about the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas in Israel. After being sentenced to six months in prison for condoning terrorism, the man was released after four and a half months in detention.

In the process, he was then placed in an administrative detention center (CRA) for 90 days as currently provided for by law. During this period, France tried to expel him to Algeria "about ten times" "without Algeria ever agreeing" to take the suspect back, explained Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on TF1 Saturday evening.

It is indeed impossible for France to expel a foreign national if his country of origin refuses to accept him by producing what is called a consular pass.

This is not the first time that the case has arisen. Last January, Algeria refused to take back the Algerian influencer "Doualemn", accused of violent remarks made on TikTok videos .

"The government, through its Minister of the Interior, is making numerous declarations. It is showing its muscles by indicating that Algeria is threatening national interests, but it is doing nothing. It is necessary to dare to engage in diplomatic arm wrestling," Jordan Bardella continues to criticize.

For months, the RN, like Bruno Retailleau, has been asking Emmanuel Macron to review the agreement between France and Algeria signed in 1968, six years after independence. This text contains measures that ease the arrival and issuance of residence permits to Algerian nationals .

For the moment, the head of state, who has the upper hand in the matter , has always refused, as has the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

Also present at the Agricultural Show, Prime Minister François Bayrou considered it "unacceptable" that the expulsion of the Mulhouse attacker had been refused ten times by Algeria.