All election campaign staffs on tenterhooks on eve of April 17 presidential polls

On the eve of Algeria’s presidential elections on April 17, the population is dominated by the fear and uncertainty, discussing the aftermath of elections and praying to God to protect the country from any potential threat. The campaign staffs of the 6 vying candidates whose headquarters are located in various parts of Algiers are gearing up in a feverish atmosphere for Thursday’s crucial presidential elections.

In fact, these concerns are not unfounded. They were fed by the statements of the candidate Ali Benflis who has informed throughout the election campaign that he and his supporters will not remain silent in case of fraud.

Manager of the campaign staff of incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, namely his former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal was prevented to hold rallies in Bejaia and Ghardaia, by angry youngsters who oppose a fourth term for the incumbent president.

The campaign staff of Bouteflika accused Benflis and his camp of orchestrating violence and incidents.

But Benflis denied such allegations, saying “these unfounded accusations prove that the fear and uncertainty have gained Bouteflika’s camp.” “I am a pacifist and peaceful. I will not be silent in case ofballot-rigging,” he told at press conference, adding that “I would respond to those who say that I’m preparing a revolt, that stability is my motto: Not being silent is a form of expression.”

The campaigns, sometimes stormy, has forced the incumbent president to break silence. While receiving Spanish Foreign Minister earlier this week, Bouteflika denounced that “the calls for violence on the eve of elections are raised by a certain candidate,” alluding to Ali Benflis.

The other aspect that has increased mistrust among Algerians is the fact that the National People’s Army (ANP) denounced in the latest issuing of its magazine El-Djeich what it called as “voices, who driven by narrow interests and by the desire to settle personal accounts, rose to publicly call on the Army to violate the Constitution and the law so it can bring into effect the conspiracies against Algeria and its people.”

In fact, this warning from the military institution is taken both as a guarantee and source of concern. Some say that if the ANP is expressed on the elections, means that the situation is worrisome.

Six candidates are running for the post of President  of the Republic in April 17 election. Observers believe that the race will narrowly be limited between Bouteflika and Benflis.

The four other candidates are the leader of Workers’ Party (PT) Louisa Hanoune, the head of Algerian National Front (FNA) Moussa Touati, the leader of AHD 54 party Ali Fawzi Rebaine, and the head of El Moustakbel Front (FM) Abdelaziz Belaid.

Nearly 23 million potential voters have registered on the electoral lists. The General Department of National Security (DGSN) announced that 186,000 police officers have been tasked with the mission of securing the April 17 presidential polls.