Abdellaziz Ziari: “The parliamentary system is dangerous for the country”

The semi-presidential system is the most suitable for our country nowadays. The parliamentary system could be dangerous because it puts power into the hands of a prime Minister elected by elected assemblies”, the Chairman of the National Popular Assembly, Mr Abdellaziz Ziari said in an exclusive interview with Echorouk.

• Echorouk : Some observers say that the MP’s salaries are among the faces of corruption. It is a well- known secret that the deputies’ salaries are staggering to say the least…
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• Abdellaziz Ziari : I’ll get away from populism and tell you frankly that the salaries of the deputies, the ministers and the managers of big enterprises are high but they are part of their legitimate rights. Nobody can strip them of this right.
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• I’ll say clearly that the MP’s don’t receive any money to enter the arena and to oppose the government, if need be.
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• For the time being, the MP’s salaries are quite substantial and if they ever ask for salary hikes, their request will not be accepted.
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• They should rather carry out their legislative and control mission in the most appropriate way.
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• Echorouk : The Libyan insurgents have accused Algeria of having funneled mercenaries to Libya and of backing the Kadhafi regime, why did the Parliament not react to these accusations?
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• Abdellaziz Ziari : The situation in Libya is very grave and the country is in the brink of a bloody civil war and we fully back the  brotherly Libyan people
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• Algeria’s official position is crystal-clear and Algeria does not want to interfere in the internal affairs of Libya and doesn’t support any conflicting sides there.
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• The aim of this destalilization campaign is clear: to bring us to back the Libyan rebels.
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• But we refuse to reply to these people who are blatantly intent on dragging Algeria into the Libyan conflict.
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• Echorouk : Everyone has noticed the glaring g absence of numerous deputies during the Assembly’s plenary sessions. As a result, several parliamentary sessions were postponed because of a lack of quorum. Is it a demonstration of indifference by these failing deputies towards the Algerian people they are meant to represent?
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• Abdellaziz Ziari : Absolutely, we will take stringent and swift measures to halt these blameworthy behaviours.
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• This kind of conduct is unacceptable and political sanctions will be imposed on these deputies including salary curtailments.
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• The deputies and the political parties should preserve the reputation of the national popular Assembly.
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• Echorouk : Given that you are the chairman of the national popular Assembly, you seemingly prefer rather the parliamentary system than the presidential system. What is your comment?
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• Abdellaziz Ziari : Neither the parliamentary system not the presidential system is compatible with the Algerian system. We have a republican character. In fact, our current system is semi-presidential which is the most suitable for our country nowadays.
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• The parliamentary system could be dangerous as it will put the power into the hands of a prime Minister elected by elected assemblies.
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• As far as I am concerned, I am against this system because I refuse to play with the future stability and cohesion of the country.
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