In a context of rapprochement between France and Morocco, the three sisters of the King of Morocco Mohammed VI were invited to the Élysée on Monday.
Princesses Lalla Asmaa, Lalla Meryem and Lalla Hasna “were received for lunch at the Élysée Palace at the invitation of Madame Brigitte Macron,” writes the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X.
This lunch is part of “the continuity of the historic relations of friendship between France and the Kingdom of Morocco”, for its part declared on Instagram the Élysée, accompanying its message with a photo of the meeting between the four women .
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“On this occasion, President Emmanuel Macron came to greet them,” added the presidency, also specifying that the head of state “recently spoke by telephone with His Majesty Mohammed VI”.
“Our link with Morocco is very important”
Recent years have been punctuated by extremely strong tensions between Morocco and France, a former colonial power where a large Moroccan diaspora lives.
At the origin of these tensions: the policy of rapprochement with Algeria desired by French President Emmanuel Macron, while Algiers broke off its diplomatic relations with Rabat in 2021.
Furthermore, a vote by the European Parliament in January 2023 – when Stéphane Séjourné chaired the Renew Europe group and condemning the degradation of press freedom in Morocco – had deeply irritated Rabat.
Moroccans then denounced an anti-Moroccan campaign “orchestrated” by the French president’s party in Brussels.
“The will is there.
I resumed the link with Morocco.
There were misunderstandings which led to a difficulty,” said Stéphane Séjourné, now Minister of Foreign Affairs, during a hearing at the National Assembly last week.
“Our link with Morocco is very important and it is even essential,” he also commented.