Belkhadem: Saidani brought back Benflis’ partisans to FLN

Former Secretary General of Algeria’s National Liberation Front (FLN) Abdelaziz Belkhadem talked about the possibility of running for office if President Abdelaziz Bouteflika decides to not run for a fourth term.

According to a release issued by Abdelaziz Belkhadem’s Faithful Commission, the former head of government said he will support Bouteflika if he runs for office. “Otherwise, I will have my own position.”

The release did not explain that “position” while all it seems that Belkhadem may run for office.

The Commission’s members told Echorouk that they met Belkhadem this week and talked with him about new developments at the Front.

“Belkhadem believes that the FLN’s Secretary General Amar Saidani failed in choosing the right new political office. His speech and decisions are in contradiction. While he calls for a fourth term for the president, he appoints Bouteflika’s opponent.”

Ali Benflis who run for office in 2004 was appointed in the FLN’s new political office.

“Belkhadem is against remarks made by the party’s new Secretary General about the Republic’s institutions and the FLN’s political partners. Those remarks are not in favor of the party and hit its stability. Belkhadem wishes that Saidani avoided them,” the Commission reported.

Earlier, Saidani said his mission is to unify the party and eliminate the conflict between its members due to some political choices.

“Saidani’s positions and recent remarks caused violent confusion among the party’s leading members,” said the release.

It added that Belkhadem is concerned about the FLN’s situation and its consequences on the next presidential elections due to be held in April 2014.

Belkhadem criticized his successor for the first time while most of political analyses show that the two men support the president for a fourth term.