Belaiz: no one can cheat in elections

Algerian interior ministry Tayeb Belaiz said boycotting elections is not limited in Algeria only but it exists in all the world’s countries. “Thursday’s elections were held in exceptional, extraordinary and unstable security circumstances. Domestic perturbations and foreign threats target Algeria’s safety and stability.”

“The reasons behind turnout decrease to 51 percent compared to more than 74 percent in the 2009’s presidential elections should be determined by specialists. In a neighbor country, the turnout did not reach 50 percent,” Belaiz told a news conference.

“Winning candidate Abdelaziz Bouetflika has never said he built an ideal city. Yet, he did a lot and other things are waiting for him as part of his program people voted for,” he added.

Speaking about voices warning to take to the street, the minister said the State is committed to protect individuals and properties and will face anyone who violates the Republic’s laws in conformity to the Constitution.

Asked about a candidate’s remarks about fraud, he said no one whatever his intelligence capacities can not cheat in elections as laws are strict. “It is difficult to cheat as there are two commissions: one for surveillance composed of candidates’ representatives and present in provinces and municipalities. The second commission is in charge of supervising elections. It includes judges and has branches in provinces and municipalities.”