Bouteflika hails “Algerian people's sense of civic responsibility and democratic convictions”

The head of state Abdellaziz Bouteflika has declared that the Algerian people's sense of civic responsibility is, what he called, “an eloquent lesson in terms of democracy”.  

• In his first declaration in the wake of his re-election for a third 5-year mandate, President Bouteflika emphasized that the polling’s results illustrated the Algerians’ deep attachment to the motherland and their free will to choose their president in all sovereignty.
• President Bouteflika further hailed the Algerian people’s confidence bestowed on him, as well as their awareness concerning the actions undertaken in a bid to overcome the difficulties facing the country.
• He said the political maturity which had prevailed during the recent election, was a promising signal for the reinforcement of democratic values and the sense of responsibility which makes the national interest, prevail.
• The head of state expressed his gratitude to all those who had contributed to the success of the April 9th ballot, be they citizens, parties, organizations, the press corporation, administrative staff or members of the national popular army and security services.
• He finally hailed the other 5 presidential candidates, expressing his consideration for them, and paying tribute to their democratic convictions, as well as to their praiseworthy efforts by respecting the principle of equity, which president Bouteflika described as the enshrinement of political pluralism.
• Mr Bouteflika, 72 years old, re-elected for a third 5 – year mandate, is thus to carry through the development programme he initiated in 1999, by investing some 150 billion dollars in major infrastructure projects and by creating 3 million jobs.
• The head of state is also expected to go ahead during his third mandate at the helm of the nation with the national reconciliation process, which has helped restore stability in the country.
• Bouteflika also paid a courtesy visit yesterday to his election campaign headquarters where he met with the journalists having covered the 19 days of his campaign across national territory.
• A ceremony was held in their honour, and that of the international press having covered the April 9 presidential voting contest.
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