Benflis meets with opposition leaders to map out strategy ahead of “conference for democratic change”

Members of the National Coordination for the transition to democracy and freedom met Sunday, April 27, in the presence of April 17 presidential candidate, Ali Benflis, at the house of former head of government Ahmed Benbitour in Algiers in a bid to streamline their respective positions ahead of a concerted political action aimed at ushering in a sweeping change at all levels in Algeria.

Even though they made the same observations on the political situation now prevailing in the country, the two sides have yet to agree on the ins and outs of the proper procedures likely to foster a genuine change in Algeria.

 “We arrived at the same conclusion concerning the diagnosis of the crisis-situation of the country”, the secretary general of Ennahda party, Mohamed Dyibi, told Echorouk.

“We expounded to Ali Benflis our approach and he found the proposed initiative interesting, he added”.

But the unfortunate candidate in the presidential election of April 17 has not yet confirmed his prior participation in the planned national conference for the democratic transition probably set for mid-May 2014.

 “For the national conference, Ali Benflis is not directly involved at the moment, he has his own choice and his own initiative,” said Sofiane Djilali, leader of Jil Jadid party, adding that members of the national coordination and Ali Benflis has agreed on the fact to remain continuously in contact and to consult each other systematically.

“In fact, the question of his presence or not in the projected conference has not been argued”, according to Abderrazak Makri chairman of the MSP movement, which is part, together with the RCD, Jil Jadid, Ennahda, and Djaballah’s FJD party of the budding Coalition for democracy and freedom in addition to other opposition political figures.

“Ali Benflis has not excluded the possibility of his presence at the planned national conference”, Abderrazak Makri explained.

“The invitations to the national conference have not yet been sent. We are expanding our consultations with a number of political actors. We will send official invitations soon to many political actors even those known to be part of the ruling political system”, RCD leader Belabbas further underscored.