Rebellious MPs vote against a resolution calling for the "immediate release" of Boualem Sansal

It's a unanimous "no" for the rebels. On Tuesday, May 6, 28 members of the parliamentary group La France Insoumise (LFI) - Nouveau Front Populaire voted against the European resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Boualem Sansal.

During the first public session held this afternoon at the National Assembly, 335 votes were cast, with 307 in favor, 28 against, and 4 abstentions. The text was adopted.

Among the opponents are the leader of the LFI deputies Mathilde Panot, the deputy of Val-de-Marne Louis Boyard, the deputy of Marseille Manuel Bompard, the deputy of Nord, David Guiraud and the deputy of Rhône Gabriel Amard.

Imprisoned in Algeria since November, Boualem Sansal, 80, was sentenced to five years in prison by the Dar El Beid Criminal Court in Algiers on March 27. The Franco-Algerian writer was prosecuted on several charges, including "undermining national unity, insulting a constituted body, practices likely to harm the national economy, and possession of videos and publications threatening the security and stability of the country."

In response to the vote by La France Insoumise, former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal denounced a "shameful position" on X. "For many months, our compatriot Boualem Sansal has been held prisoner by the authoritarian regime in Algiers. Through this man, freedom of expression is imprisoned and the values ​​of France are being held hostage," he wrote.

For his part, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said that La France Insoumise "is sinking once again into indignity and dishonor."

During the examination of the text this afternoon, LFI MP Éric Coquerel , supported by applause from his parliamentary group, thundered that the proposed resolution was "a means of exploiting Boualem Sansal" and "settling scores with Algeria".

"You don't get things done with Algiers through threats, blackmail and confrontation," he said.

In France, the case has received widespread attention, with Boualem Sansal receiving support from numerous prominent figures. Hundreds of people gathered in Paris on March 25 in front of the National Assembly in support of the Franco-Algerian writer, including the presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate, Yaël Braun-Pivet and Gérard Larcher, and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.