Algeria’s personalities keep silence ahead of elections

Eminent national personalities still prefer keeping silent ahead of Algeria’s presidential elections due to be held in April 2014 sparking rumors, opacity and confusion.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is the most important silent personality. Leaders of Workers’ Party Louisa Hanoune and Change Front Abdelmadjid Menasra called on him to express his position towards the elections.

This comes as Secretaries General of Algeria’s National Liberation Front (FLN) Amar Saadani, the RND Abdelkader Bensaleh, the Algerian Workers’ Union Abdelmadjid Sidi Said and the Popular Mouvement Amara Benyounes announced their support to Bouteflika’s fourth term. Yet, the president is still silent.

Former President Yamine Zeroual is also keeping silent while it is said he refused to receive a delegation of sons of war’s veterans who called on him to run for office.

Questions are also raised about former head of government Mouloud Hamrouche who run for office in 1999. He did not show his position about the elections.

Historic leader of Algeria’s FFS Hocine Ait Ahmed has unsually kept silent while it is believed that he quitted political policy making due to his age and health problems.

The RND’s former leader Ahmed Ouyahia has not uttered a word since he quitted the government in a weird way. It is said he would supervise Bouteflika’s electoral campaign if he runs for office. Yet, the controversial man did not express himself.

The FLN’s former leader and the president’s personal representative Abdelaziz Belkhadem prefers not to speak as well. He surprisingly attended the party’s last rally in Algiers amid ambiguity over his position towards the elections.

Other personalities who played an important role in decision making in Algeria such as former heads of government Reda Malek, Mokdad Sifi and Sid Ahmed Ghezali did announce their positions as well.