Benflis: ANP Army Doesn’t Interfere In Politics And 2019 Presidential Polls Aren’t Among My Priorities

Ali Benflis, the chairman of Talai El-Houriyat (Freedoms’ Vanguard) party was vehement in his latest press statement arguing that: “Our country has never been in such a delicate situation, carrying such a high risk of civil peace, stability and security national, like today!”.

This came out Monday, February 19 during a press conference he gave at his party headquarters in Algiers. For the former head of government, Algeria is in “a total stalemate”. He charged the “autistic power that ignores parties and civil society”.

Ali Benflis refused to speak of “bad governance”, since according to him, the country “is simply not governed”. And when decisions are made, they are the work of “improvisation”, as he put it.

Throughout the press conference, the former head of government refused despite the insistence of  journalists to give a clear-cut answer on his participation or not in the next presidential elections slated for 2019.

For his party and for him personally, “there are other priorities” among which he alluded to “the economic crisis, social peace, and to a lesser degree the security situation in the country”.

“Let’s talk first about the transparency of elections. What can the united opposition do in the face of the huge legal and administrative arsenal of power? he surmised.

On the other hand, Ali Benflis has a conviction: “The circles of power are tearing each other apart to position themselves for the 2019 presidential deadline by media and clientele interposed. Taking advantage of the vacuum at the top of the state, lobbies have never been so active in swaying governmental decisions,” he added.

Talai el-Houriyat’s President is not in favor of the way in which Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia deals with the current boiling social discontent. Branding teachers “pirates”, using the stick against resident doctors “is a shame,” stressed Ali Benflis. 

He stated that the relevant authorities have failed to engage “a genuine dialogue” with the protesters.

Finally, Ali Benflis spared the military institution of his criticism. Asked about the accusations made by the military institution about “manipulation” in the handling of the army retirees’ file, Benflis responded briefly: “I did not hear the chief of staff of the ANP Army talking about political affairs”. 

He also stressed that “the military institution has had no role whatsoever in the current crisis that is shaking the country as the ANP Army has now steered clear from politics”.