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The announcement has taken the deputies of the National Assembly by surprise. For the first time, the presidency of the France-Morocco friendship group is expected to be handed to the National Rally (RN). «It’s an agreement between the Renaissance and RN groups», said Mathieu Lefèvre, a Macronist deputy who negotiated directly with far-right deputy Laurent Jacobelli, according to a source in the French Parliament.
The two groups, whose relationship has been marked by ambivalence since the immigration law debates at the end of 2023, have decided to divide the leadership of parliamentary friendship groups. Among these, the France-Morocco group is highly sought after.
«Once the allocations are finalized, the designated party selects the deputy to lead the friendship group on the French side. If the RN secures the presidency of the France-Morocco group, it’s likely that Marine Le Pen or Sébastien Chenu will head it», the source noted, expressing concern about the potential implications for this key platform of parliamentary diplomacy between the two nations.
There is a significant risk that security issues and immigration—a primary focus of the far right—will overshadow other vital concerns for Moroccans living in France and their families. This shift could further align the group’s agenda with RN’s campaign priorities.
The situation is compounded by the likelihood of deputies from other parliamentary groups withdrawing from participation. «When an RN member leads a friendship group, other parties tend to abandon it», the source explained. As a result, the France-Morocco friendship group, once a cornerstone of parliamentary diplomacy, risks becoming ineffective. This is especially ironic given President Macron’s emphasis on strengthening parliamentary ties between Rabat and Paris during his official visit to Morocco.
What remains uncertain is the stance of Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, who is currently visiting Morocco.
