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French presidential hopeful David Lisnard dismisses 1961 Paris massacre of Algerians

· Source: Algeria Now

French presidential hopeful David Lisnard dismisses 1961 Paris massacre of Algerians

David Lisnard, mayor of Cannes and candidate of the Nouvelle Énergie party for the 2027 French presidential election, sparked controversy on LCI on 19 October 2026 when he responded to a student’s question about the 17 October 1961 police repression of Algerian demonstrators in Paris. The student asked him to recall what happened on that date, and Lisnard replied, "I don’t care, I wasn’t born then," adding that he had "Algerian friends who have understood we have moved on".

Lisnard later qualified his remarks, describing the events as "very serious and tragic" but insisting that they were "not my problem today" and shifting the discussion to recent riots in French cities. Historians estimate that nearly 300 Algerian protesters were killed, many of them thrown into the Seine, during the crackdown ordered by Prefect Maurice Papon.

The comments prompted criticism from several French politicians. LFI deputy Thomas Portes labelled Lisnard’s stance as racist, while ecologist deputy Sabrina Sebaihi argued that a future leader cannot disregard a part of France’s history. Sebaihi reminded that the National Assembly had adopted a resolution in March 2024 recognising the massacre as a crime of state.

A coalition of about thirty mayors, including those of Paris, Saint‑Denis and Montreuil, has called for an official national day of remembrance and full opening of Algerian War archives, arguing that previous symbolic gestures by former presidents remain insufficient. The controversy revives debate over how France confronts its colonial past ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

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