Benflis to Echorouk TV: justice and hydrocarbons laws behind dispute with Bouteflika

Ali Benflis, a candidate for the Algerian presidential elections due to be held in April talked to Echorouk in an interview after more than 10 years of silence. He revealed information related to his dispute with President Bouteflika in 2004.

Why have you been absent for 10 years?

This question pushes me to go back to 2004 during the presidential elections. I run for office. I was the Secretary General of the National Liberation Front (FLN). Because of that, I had two responsibilities. The elections were held on April 8^th in 2004 and everyone knows what happened.

You said you withdrew to keep your partisans.

I preserved Algeria and its stability. I contributed in the FLN’s stability. When the 2004’s elections results were announced, thousands of people protested next to the FLN’s headoffice against that. I preferred not make any statement. Yet, I was not absent in Algeria neither among partisans.

A few days ago, you announced that you would run for office. It is said the next elections are “closed” and most of opposition forces will boycott them.

I fight for democracy and extending freedoms. Should I stay at home? What is politicians’ role according to those who will boycott the elections? I am democratic.

Most of opposition parties say they are “closed.” Are you convinced by that and you want to contribute in opening democratic process or you do not admit that they are “closed?”

I am not here to talk about that. Let’s me say that I will run for office and I will go to villages to ask residents to wake up. We are living in the 21^st century. We are in the Internet, Twitter and Facebook era.

What are you comments about remarks of the FLN’s Secretary General Amar Saadani who criticized the Algerian intelligence department?

I was the party’s leader in 2001 and I was re-elected in 2003. In 2004, I resigned. I held the position of Attorney General at the age of 24. Late President Houari Boumediene appointed me as Attorney General in the Court of Constantine. Then, I was elected as the leader of lawyers’ union twice. I was a member of the Human Rights League. I also was justice minister in three cabinets. I held the position of head of government twice.  

The FLN’s officials should preserve the country’s stability. I have no other comments.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika or people surrounding him are asking for a fourth term. What do you think about that in terms of the man’s heal condition and his achievements? Do you think he is eligible to remain in power in view of his achievements?

President Bouteflika did not announce that he would run for office. Because of that, I can not make a comment.

The fugitive billionaire Abdelmoumene Khalifa’s issue started while you were head of government. Some held you responsible for not be aware of his wrongdoings.

Let’s me say that Khalifa Bank was accredited before I had been appointed as head of government and before President Bouteflika had come to power in 1999. The Central Bank follows up the other banks. In September 2002, I learnt that a report showed wrongdoings in the Khalifa Bank’s management. I held a meeting with the finance minister, the Central Bank’s director, its commissioner, the director of the President’s personal staff and other executives. We came up it a decision to open an administrative investigation to check the report veracity.

Khalifa stole billions of Algerians’ money. Then, some employees and executives were accused. Neither minister nor a senior official in the State appeared in court. Can you say that this man was protected by officials in the State?

There were two reasons behind the dispute between me and President Boutaflika. Legally speaking, I approved two laws on the Justice Supreme Court and judges’ statue. I said judges should be free and independent. They should obey to their conscience and the law only. They should not be submitted to the government. They should remain free until retirement.     

Why did you reject the law on hydrocarbons?

I rejected it and told President Bouteflika I could not approve it. People’s property can not be managed by one person. It is up to people to decide because hydrocarbons belong to them. There is no personal dispute with President Bouteflika. We disagreed on opinions.