Bouteflika Snubs Belkhadem’s Suggestion to Hamper the New Born Parties Ahead of Legislative Elections

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s decision to give the green light to accredit new political parties ahead of the upcoming legislative elections has implicitly been “countered” by some ministers.

In fact, the recent ministers’ council chaired by President Bouteflika lasted for 8 hours, and yet has not discussed many files, well informed sources told Echorouk reporter. 

The next legislative elections and the political reforms took the lion share of the council discussions, the sources added.

Mr Bouteflika said he is to summon the electoral commission after the wrap up of the parliamentary fall session, as by next February, in order to prepare the legislative elections around May, in conformity with the legal deadlines. 

President required for these elections to be “transparent and free” as well as “unprecedented” in terms of the participation of new born parties. Yet, this remark sparked the reaction of State Minister, President Personal Representative, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, who is also head of the parliament major party FLN.

Echorouk sources said Mr Belkhadem proposed to advance the legislative elections. Observers said Mr Belkhadem tends to bar the way on new born parties to get ready for this political contest.

However, President Bouteflika has not paid attention to Belkhadem’s suggestion, as he has rather insisted on guaranteeing transparency as to avoid the “phenomenon of boycott” which characterized precedent elections.

Mr Bouteflika urged the government and the political parties to work on convincing the voters to come to ballots, and make of the first post political reforms’ elections, a success.