Decision
Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria
- Effect
- Adopted
- Result
- 533 for · 24 against · 48 abstained roll call
- Date
- 23 January 2025, 12:10–12:11
- Kind
- Resolution
More facts (9)
- Margin
- by an overwhelming majority
- Dossier
- 2025/2512(RSP)
- Source
- Motion for a resolution
- Topics
- Foreign affairs Assigned by a model, not checked by hand.
- Votes
- 15 votes · 7 roll calls · 6 amendments
- Requested by
- The Left (1 roll call) · Renew (1 roll call) · Patriots (1 roll call)
- Sitting
- Thursday 23 January 2025
- Final vote
- 171594
Result
The final vote and what it means for this kind of decision.
Final vote: 533 for, 24 against, 48 abstained (roll call).
Adopted by an overwhelming majority.
Parliament adopted the text as its official position.
Before the final vote, MEPs decided on 6 amendments (6 rejected) and 1 part of the text voted on separately (1 rejected). 7 alternative motions lapsed once the text was adopted.
Backed by Greens, S&D, Renew, EPP, ECR and Patriots; opposed by The Left; ESN mostly abstained.
Groups
| Group | For | Against | Abst. | No vote | Majority line | Clear line | Cohesion | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Left | For 8 | Against 18 | Abst. 11 | No vote 9 of 46 | Majority line Against | Clear line Divided | Cohesion 0.23 | |
| Greens | For 44 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 9 of 53 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| S&D | For 119 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 17 of 136 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| Renew | For 69 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 6 of 75 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| EPP | For 163 | Against 2 | Abst. 0 | No vote 23 of 188 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 0.98 | |
| ECR | For 66 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 14 of 80 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| Patriots | For 61 | Against 0 | Abst. 1 | No vote 24 of 86 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 0.98 | |
| ESN | For 0 | Against 1 | Abst. 20 | No vote 5 of 26 | Majority line Abstained | Clear line Abstained | Cohesion 0.93 | |
| No group | For 3 | Against 3 | Abst. 16 | No vote 7 of 29 | Majority line — | Clear line No line | Cohesion — |
Members who changed group are counted in the group of the day: Branko GRIMS changed group, Elena YONCHEVA changed group, Elisabetta GUALMINI changed group, Ewa ZAJĄCZKOWSKA-HERNIK changed group, Fernand KARTHEISER changed group, Jessika VAN LEEUWEN changed group, Laurent CASTILLO changed group, Lukas SIEPER changed group, Malika SOREL changed group, Nikola BARTŮŠEK changed group, Nikolas FARANTOURIS changed group, Pina PICIERNO changed group, Roberto VANNACCI changed group, Sander SMIT changed group, Taner KABILOV changed group.
Voted against their group, 4
Members who voted otherwise than a clear line (at least two thirds of the votes cast, at least 10 members voting) of the group they sat in that day. A group without a clear line is divided and not counted.
EPP line For · 2 voted against of 165 who voted
Voted against (2)
- Alma EZCURRA ALMANSA Spain
- Christian EHLER Germany
Patriots line For · 1 abstained of 62 who voted
Abstained (1)
- Anders VISTISEN Denmark
ESN line Abstained · 1 voted for or against of 21 who voted
Voted for or against (1)
- Siegbert Frank DROESE Germany
Countries
The final vote by national delegation.
Votes by country (27 delegations)
| Country | For | Against | Abst. | No vote | Cohesion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 16 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 |
| Belgium | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.86 |
| Bulgaria | 10 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.65 |
| Cyprus | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — |
| Czechia | 13 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.72 |
| Germany | 62 | 4 | 19 | 11 | 0.59 |
| Denmark | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.85 |
| Estonia | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Spain | 48 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0.88 |
| Finland | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| France | 61 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 0.87 |
| Greece | 10 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0.44 |
| Croatia | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| Hungary | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | — |
| Ireland | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 |
| Italy | 55 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0.81 |
| Lithuania | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.85 |
| Luxembourg | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Latvia | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Malta | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Netherlands | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| Poland | 46 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0.88 |
| Portugal | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.86 |
| Romania | 21 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0.87 |
| Sweden | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| Slovenia | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Slovakia | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0.31 |
Members
Each member’s recorded position on the final roll call, in the group they sat in that day. Filter by country, group, position or name.
Debate speakers and how they voted
| Member | Group | Speeches | Spoke | Final vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabine VERHEYEN Germany | EPP | Speeches1 | 23 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Ewa KOPACZ Poland | EPP | Speeches2 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Nathalie LOISEAU France | Renew | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Bernard GUETTA France | Renew | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) · for the group | For |
| Raphaël GLUCKSMANN France | S&D | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) · for the group | For |
| Miriam LEXMANN Slovakia | EPP | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) · for the group | For |
Show the other 7 speakers
| Member | Group | Speeches | Spoke | Final vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marta TEMIDO Portugal | S&D | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Sebastian TYNKKYNEN Finland | ECR | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Helmut BRANDSTÄTTER Austria | Renew | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Matthieu VALET France | Patriots | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Rima HASSAN France | The Left | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | Against |
| Christophe GOMART France | EPP | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| Catarina VIEIRA Netherlands | Greens | Speeches1 | 22 Jan 2025 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
All votes on this decision, 15
| No. | Vote | Recorded | Result | Requested by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amendment 4, adding text after paragraph 2 RC-B10-0087/2025 - Après le § 2 - Am 4 | Roll call | 109 for, 443 against, 61 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: The Left |
| 2 | Amendment 5 to paragraph 5 RC-B10-0087/2025 - § 5 - Am 5 | Roll call | 56 for, 546 against, 10 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: The Left |
| 3 | Amendment 3 to paragraph 5 RC-B10-0087/2025 - § 5 - Am 3 | Roll call | 164 for, 435 against, 13 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Patriots |
Show the other 14 votesShow the other 12 votes
| No. | Vote | Recorded | Result | Requested by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Amendment 5 to paragraph 5 RC-B10-0087/2025 - § 5 - Am 5 | Roll call | 56 for, 546 against, 10 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: The Left |
| 3 | Amendment 3 to paragraph 5 RC-B10-0087/2025 - § 5 - Am 3 | Roll call | 164 for, 435 against, 13 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Patriots |
| No. | Vote | Recorded | Result | Requested by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Amendment 2, adding text after paragraph 5 RC-B10-0087/2025 - Après le § 5 - Am 2 | Roll call | 135 for, 435 against, 42 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Patriots |
| 5 | Amendment 6, adding text after paragraph 5 RC-B10-0087/2025 - Après le § 5 - Am 6 | Roll call | 62 for, 540 against, 8 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: The Left |
| 6 | Amendment 1, adding text after recital D RC-B10-0087/2025 - Après le considérant D - Am 1 | Roll call | 113 for, 431 against, 64 abstained Rejected | Requested byroll call: Patriots |
| 7 | Vote on text inserted after recital E | Counted | 139 for, 366 against, 104 abstained Rejected | |
| 8 | Final vote — text as a whole RC-B10-0087/2025 - Proposition de résolution (ensemble du texte) | Roll call | 533 for, 24 against, 48 abstained Adopted | Requested byroll call: Renew |
| 9 | Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0087/2025 | Show of hands | Lapsed | |
| 10 | Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0088/2025 | Show of hands | Lapsed | |
| 11 | Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0089/2025 | Show of hands | Lapsed | |
| 12 | Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0090/2025 | Show of hands | Lapsed | |
| 13 | Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0091/2025 | Show of hands | Lapsed | |
| 14 | Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0092/2025 | Show of hands | Lapsed | |
| 15 | Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0093/2025 | Show of hands | Lapsed |
Roll calls requested by The Left, Renew, Patriots.
Text
The text voted on.
AI: What this vote decides Written by AI from the official text — check the source
Parliament adopted a resolution on the case of Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian writer detained in Algeria since November 2024.
The text calls on Algerian authorities to release Sansal and all those arbitrarily detained for expressing opinions, and to amend penal code articles to protect press freedom.
It also condemns the detention of at least 215 prisoners of opinion and calls for allowing foreign journalists to operate freely in Algeria.
Parliament asks Algeria to implement UN recommendations and end intimidation of lawyers and judges, and expresses concern over a political party reform.
AI: The text in short Written by AI from the official text — check the source
The resolution condemns the detention of writer Boualem Sansal and other prisoners of opinion in Algeria, and calls for their release and for legal reforms to protect freedom of expression.
Dossier
Where the dossier stands and its other decisions in plenary.
2025/2512(RSP) · Resolution on a topical subject
Parliament adopted the text on 23 January 2025. This is its final position on the matter.
Show the 3 steps of the dossier
- Tabled for plenary (done)
- Plenary vote · Adopted 23 January 2025 (done)
- Parliament’s position · Final (done)
Connections
What this decision touches: the procedural chain, the same text, running issues, votes that split the chamber the same way.
Show 6 connections: Running issue: Detention of EU citizens abroad
Running issue: Detention of EU citizens abroad
- Issue Detention of EU citizens abroad Running issue · EU initiative 22 Jan 2026
- Decision Case of Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic Resolution · motion for a resolution 22 Jan 2026 Adopted
- Decision Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong Resolution · motion for a resolution 22 Jan 2026 Adopted
- Decision Arbitrary detention of EU citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta in Equatorial Guinea Resolution · motion for a resolution 9 Oct 2025 Adopted
- Decision 10th anniversary of the detention of jailed Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China Resolution · motion for a resolution 9 Oct 2025 Adopted
- Decision Case of Abdoul Aziz Goma, arbitrarily detained in Togo Resolution · motion for a resolution 11 Sept 2025 Adopted
Sources & citation
Where the facts on this page come from, and how to cite it.
- Official sources
- Data source
- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
- Retrieved
- 25 September 2026
Cite as
European Parliament (2025). “Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria”. Decision, 23 January 2025. votingId 171594, document B-10-2025-0091, reference 2025/2512(RSP). EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2025-01-23/3 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Official sources: Roll-call votes, sitting of 23 January 2025 (European Parliament), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2025-01-23-RCV_EN.html; Results of votes, sitting of 23 January 2025 (European Parliament), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2025-01-23-VOT_EN.html. Data: EP Open Data API: decisions of the sitting MTG-PL-2025-01-23, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/meetings/MTG-PL-2025-01-23/decisions?format=application%2Fld%2Bjson (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX
@misc{epw-decision-2025-01-23-3,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria}},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-23},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2025-01-23/3}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2025-01-23/3},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Decision. votingId 171594, document B-10-2025-0091, reference 2025/2512(RSP). Official source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2025-01-23-RCV\_EN.html, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2025-01-23-VOT\_EN.html. Data: EP Open Data API: decisions of the sitting MTG-PL-2025-01-23 (CC BY 4.0)}
}