Algerian Power Struggles Alone Against the French Abuses

Absence of a pro parties and important popular organizations from facing the escalation in the Algerian-French relationships raised a number of questions about their position, especially since they are not accustomed to leave a vacant arena in front of their competitors.

With the exception of the joint statement that was issued by the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) and the Forum of Heads of Institutions (CPE), and the last statement of the General Secretary of the National Democratic Rally, Ahmed Ouyahia, there were no documented positions of the largest supporters of President Bouteflika, led by the National Liberation Front (FLN), and to a lesser extent the People’s Movement Party, that is led by the former Trade Minister, Amara Ben Younes.

Silence was the salient feature in the positions of the popular organizations that affiliated to the revolutionary family, which are known for their profanity testaments and strict positions, especially when it comes to France, like the National Organization of War Veterans, the National Organization for the Martyrs’ Children, the National Coordinating for Martyrs’ Children, the National Organization for the War Veterans’ Children, and the Islamic Scouts, which is ironic.

This happens at a time when the Algerian relationships noticed a counter-attack escalation, which Algeria used to respond to the repeated French abuses, as the round came this time on the daily governmental and French-speaking newspaper “El Moudjahid”, which carried an editorial issue, on Monday, against the French left ruling party.

El Moudjahid newspaper has stopped at some of the French positions in recent times, and did not hesitate to consider them a “direct interference in the country’s internal affairs”, before accusing François Hollande and his surroundings of changing the position of the gun from shoulder to another, in anticipation of the presidential elections that are expected next year, as It came at the editorial.

In the midst of dealing with the issue, the newspaper asked many questions about the background of the French campaign against President Bouteflika, as he is a symbol of the state, and wrote: “At a time when bilateral relationships have made a step forward, they are retreating backwards, due to the absence of serenity and balance of interests in the relationships between the two countries.

When a daily newspaper like “El Moudjahid” allocates its editorial to attack the French left ruling party, it means that the tension that characterizes the bilateral relationships these days, reached the worst level ever, at least since 2012, when Holland became President, on the ruins of the right, represented by the former President, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Algerian response seemed inclined towards the escalation and organization, as the Housing and Urbanism Minister, Abdelmadjd Tebboune, attacked the French construction company “Bouygue” and the French generally, to confirm the existence of a strategy and planning in responding the French abuses, when he said that the “French do not like Algeria’s free  positions, and they hope it will always belong to them”.