Algeria: Bensaleh chooses serviceman and civilian to manage reform dialogue séances

The president of the Council of the Nation Abdelkader Bensaleh chose the president’s advisor on political affairs Mohamed Ali Boughazi as his second assistant in managing extended dialogue séances.

• Bensaleh’s first assistant is retired general Mohamed Touati who works as the president’s advisor on security affairs.
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• The announcement of the agenda and the form of consultations will be made within two days, Echorouk has learnt.
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• Those names show that the president gives an importance to a set of sensitive considerations.
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• Previously, President Bouteflika announced deep political reforms to end crisis on the social level.
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• Retired General Touati was chosen in an attempt to dissuade the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) and the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) from boycotting dialogue séances. The president’s advisor on security affairs shares with the FFS many political and ideological convictions.
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• Regardless the volume of the so-called democratic pole in the political arena, the president takes in consideration the necessity of this tendency’s opinions and conceptions to end the crisis.
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• Mohamed Ali Boughazi was the minister of public works and scientific research in 1999-2000 in the name of Al Nahda movement, the second largest Islamist party recognised in Algeria. That shows that Bensaleh and Bouteflika gives an importance to the Islamist representation in the dialogue séances management.
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• Bensaleh and his assistants’ role is limited in collecting political and national personalities’ positions and visions in meetings. They will be then transferred to the president’s office.
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• A technical commission of experts in the constitutional law will be formed to crystallize the reforms following the dialogue séances results.