Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said Macron made the remarks during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting after comments by French Ambassador Stephane Romatet triggered criticism from conservative and far-right politicians in France. “The president of the republic wanted to correct the remarks of our ambassador in Algeria, which have been widely circulated in recent days, particularly regarding the number of visas,” Bregeon told reporters. “There is no numerical objective regarding visas and there is no laxity on France’s part,” she quoted Macron as saying. The clarification comes amid attempts by Algeria to to rebuild ties with France. Relations further worsened following the arrest by Algerian authorities of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal- who was released following pressure from Paris- and the continued detention of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes.