DZWatch Exclusive: Controversial French political figure Éric Zemmour has reacted with apparent fury following Algeria’s decision to release writer Boualem Sansal. The move, a sovereign act by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, came in response to a humanitarian request from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Instead of responding with measured diplomacy, Zemmour chose to vent his long-held animosity towards Algeria in a social media post. His words reveal a deep-seated resentment, more akin to a personal vendetta than a reasoned political opinion.
Zemmour, known for his populist rhetoric and hostility towards Algeria, Arabs, and Muslims, took to platform ‘X’ to express his discontent. He stated that ‘Germany succeeded where French leaders never could,’ adding that France has become ‘weak before Algeria.’ These remarks, intended as an attack on the French government, inadvertently exposed France’s envy of Algeria’s growing diplomatic stature.
Zemmour’s outburst reflects the frustration of a far-right movement that refuses to accept Algeria’s assertion of its influence on the European stage. The core issue driving Zemmour’s anger isn’t the release of a writer, but rather the shifting balance of power. Algeria is no longer a nation that can be lectured or pressured by statements from Paris. It has emerged as a key player in energy, security, and migration, with a respected voice in both Africa and Europe.
His comments are a reflection of France’s declining influence in the face of Algeria’s pragmatic and assertive diplomacy. Algeria now engages with other nations on equal footing, defending its interests without subservience.
Éric Zemmour represents a dwindling voice from a colonial past, clinging to the outdated notion of an Algeria subservient to Paris. The world has changed, and so has Algeria. Zemmour fails to grasp that speaking with a tone of superiority now only elicits ridicule. When he describes France as weak before Algeria, he implicitly acknowledges the strength and resilience of the Algerian position. What he labels as weakness is, in reality, a recognition of Algeria’s growing influence and independent stance. This shift marks a significant change in the dynamics between the two nations.
