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What happens when a country’s electorate suddenly expands by hundreds of thousands
of new voters? This study examines the political impact of the mass arrival of repatriates
from Algeria to France. Using this quasi-experiment, I demonstrate that their arrival
caused significant changes in the French electoral landscape. In areas of exposure to
their arrival, they increased the French electorate and reshaped the vote for right-wing
parties. Furthermore, their presence influenced candidates’ electoral strategies, causing
all candidates to shift their electoral manifestos towards pro-repatriate stances. This
significant historical event influenced French political life, reshaping electoral dynamics
and political strategies in France.
