Ahmed Benbitour : « I can bring change to Algerians because I know the power apparatus from the inside »
The former Algerian Prime Minister and the sole candidate up to now for the 2014 presidential polls, Ahmed Benbitour, has affirmed that he’s able to bring about change for the benefit of all the Algerians given that he knows perfectly well the power machinery from the inside.
Speaking at the Echorouk’s Forum on Tuesday as a distinguished guest, Mr Ahmed Benbitour expounded his political and economic program with which he will run for the upcoming presidential elections stressing that his main objective, if he is elected at the helm of the country, would be geared to altering altogether the system of governance in Algeria.
He said that it was of paramount importance that the next presidential polls should be fair and transparent in order to allow the Algerian electors to have their legitimate say through the ballot box away from any ballot rigging, fraud or malpractice.
Mr Benbitour stressed that the current regime has only two alternatives to choose from, either to promote political overture and a peaceful democratic transition on the occasion of the 2014 presidential polls or leave the country steep into turmoil, instability and confusion.
The former Prime Minister pointed out that he wouldn’t deceive or lie to the Algerian citizens stressing that he would be faithful to the guidelines and promises contained in his election program without any drift or deviation once elected to the top rostrum unlike previous candidates who reneged on their oath and pledges.
Mr Benbitour also noted that he would also strive if elected to foster a genuine democratic practice at all levels of the state institutions notably through the re-establishment of the lost trust between the rulers and the citizens.
Algeria has not witnessed a bona-fide democratic practice and good governance since the year 1989 despite the advent of multipartism brought about by the nationwide popular upheaval of October 5th 1988, he explained.
With regard to President Bouteflika’s illness, Mr Ahmed Benbitour said that it was natural that the head of state fell sick but he hit out against the glaring murkiness harboured by the relevant authorities about his true health condition.
He stressed that the Algerian citizens were fully entitled to know about the health condition of their President and when exactly he’s going to return to the country.
He added that the head of state’s protracted absence from the country could have a nefarious impact on the smooth running of the state institutions despite the sweeping assertions indicating the opposite made by certain officials.
Mr Ahmed Benbitour went on to say that the current regime didn’t accept any opposing viewpoint or opinion, this negative policy, he said, had widened the gap between the ruling nomenclatura and the citizens who feel utterly neglected, despised and stranded in their own country.
He further describer the current power apparatus as “dictatorial” given its unflagging attempts at gagging the opposition or any dissenting voice eager to see the enforcement of genuine democratic reforms, social justice, freedom of expression, fruitful dialogue and the promotion of the rule of law on all fronts.
Moreover, Mr Benbitour firmly rejected the reported rumours that he was the candidate of the United States saying that he’d not travelled to America for a long time arguing that he would truly be the loyal candidate of the Algerian people, as he put it.
Mr Ahmed Benbitour emphasized that his main goal was to preserve and safeguard the supreme interests of the Algerian nation beyond any foreign intrusion or interference in Algeria’s internal affairs.
Asked whether he would refuse a possible Islamists’ backing for his candidacy, Mr Ahmed Benbitour stated that he had nothing against the Islamist trend but was rather against those who use the sacred religion of Islam for sheer political purposes.