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Mohand Boughalem became a citizen of France only months ago, in December. Poised to savour the opportunity to vote in his first French presidential election in April, the Algeria native had applied precisely for that privilege and to get involved, fully and completely, in French democratic life.
“I had already voted in Algeria, but it isn’t the same. An election there is a foregone conclusion because, let’s be honest, it’s a dictatorship,” the Marseille-based fifty-something with greying curls told FRANCE 24. “French democracy isn’t perfect but we can demonstrate and join a party without being afraid.”
When he settled in France in 2000, fleeing a bloody decade of conflict between the army and Islamists in Algeria that saw as many as 200,000 killed through the 1990s, Boughalem wasn’t especially seeking to become French. The politically engaged artist had attracted troublesome attention on the other side of the Mediterranean and was looking above all for stability, a safe haven and a job. “At that time, since I wasn’t managing to get my physical education and sports teaching degree recognised as equivalent here, I decided to earn my living from my passion, music,” the ever-smiling Boughalem recounted.
Now a professor of stringed instruments, Boughalem is also finally fully engaged in the political and community work in his city. “Before, I was only participating in meetings and political debates. I felt that I needed to go further in my political engagement,” he explained. “So I asked for French citizenship so that I could vote, too.”
The Covid-19 pandemic also played an important…
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Source : france24
