Benflis to Echourouk tv: I haven’t betrayed president Bouteflika but we disagreed about Algeria

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.

The strife started with president Bouteflika?

In 1999 president Bouteflika contacted me ,we had discussions ,then  he asked  about my aspirations and I told him that I was eager to concretize the society of liberties and  democracy .He then replied that it was the core of his program and he entrusted me do draft it.That was how I became a partner in the 1999 project… I held responsibilities for three years but after ,I had a disagreement with president  Bouteflika for the reasons I’ve previously explained ; meanwhile, I’ve totally refused to give up.

In 2004, a lot of personalities supported your candidature and some persons said that the army was against a second mandate of president Bouteflika.

It is true that the majority of the FLN party was with me as well as other political parties and national personalities and they are still supporting me because they still believe in me.

What about our youth which represents 75% of the society and our young people are living in very harsh conditions .They are jobless ,single ,etc……………..?

In my opinion today’s nationalism is to give to the young   people the place they deserve and let them hold key positions in the state’s affairs.

What about Islamic parties in 2014 elections?

You’ll see that a great number of persons coming from different political movements will sustain me ; if they were  Islamists  ,nationalists or democrats .I’ve got several friends belonging to the Islamic current ,among them ,doctor Jaballah ,Mr Mokri ,Mr Abdessalam ,Mr Douibi and Mr Younsi .

What is your opinion about the Arab Spring?

The international policy is mostly a matter of balance of power between great nations and small ones. It is, also, a matter of preserving interests. If you ask me: does the external factors played a role in what is called the Arab Spring? I would  say  yes  ,but ,internal issues in those countries were the most influential.

Do you promise to make the Arabic language recover its true value and true position in our society?

Of course. I was one of the first who gave to Arabic language its consideration; don’t forget that I studied at the Ben Badis school.

Are you optimistic about your candidacy to the coming presidential elections?

I’m optimistic at hundred percent because I’m presenting a “good project” for all the Algerian people … a project of agreement and good feeling.

A last word ?

My message is for the Algerian nation which is for me a great nation and I really mean it. I trust in God and I trust in a political project that can be materialized. I also trust in a unified nation for a unique strong unified Algeria. A last, I hope that the nation would massively vote to come out of this crisis.