27 unknown people run for office

A total of 27 people Sunday withdrew application forms to run for office in the presidential elections due to be held in April. According to the Algerian interior ministry, those names are not known in the political scene.

The number of applicants went up to 27 from 15 in 24 hours. This raises questions about their seriousness while legal procedures are complex and need the mobilization of employees and financial resources to deal with signatures required in the applications.

Sources say Algeria’s former heads of government Ali Benflis and Ahmed Benbitour who announced their intention to run for office have not withdrawn the application forms yet.

Earlier on Friday, the ministry said the application forms could be withdrawn starting from the following Saturday at its headquarter.

According to the Algerian law on elections, applicants should submit at least 600 signatures of elected people in municipal, provincial or parliamentary assemblies in 25 provinces at least. They also can submit a list of at least 60,000 individual signatures of voters registered in an electoral list. Those signatures should be collected in 25 provinces at least.