On September 20, sixty years after the end of the Algerian war, Emmanuel Macron promised “recognition and reparation” to the harkis. It will initially translate into fifty million euros from the 2022 budget dedicated to these Algerian soldiers engaged in the French forces during the Algerian war.
A specific bill is expected in the Chamber on November 18, but budgetary measures were now necessary “in order to be able to implement this law as soon as it is voted”, according to Geneviève Darrieussecq, Minister responsible for memory and veterans. Two amendments were therefore voted on at first reading in the National Assembly, the first on the evening of October 26 and the second this Friday at the Palais-Bourbon.
Revaluation of allowances
One of the government amendments estimates the maximum cost of this right to compensation at 302 million euros for several years. The “50 million” are used to finance “the start of the implementation of the bill intended for harkis and their families”, according to Geneviève Darrieussecq. Of this sum, 2.17 million should be used to revalue recognition and life allowances.
In the hemicycle, the communist Jean-Paul Dufrègne said he was in favor of this repair, even if he “wonders about the timing of this announcement” by Emmanuel Macron, as the presidential election approaches. LR Julien Aubert also supported the amendment, while calling for an “informative calendar” of repairs “for 2023 and 2024”.
Emmanuel Macron did not give an assessment of the overall amount of this support in September, which must be added to the 40 million euros released in 2018 over four years as part of the “harkis plan”.