Bouteflika’s fourth term provokes opposition parties in Algeria

Politicians in Algeria have no doubt that the presidential elections game 2014 is closed now as the FLN party announced his support to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a fourth term.

That means choices for candidates are reduced as they are convinced that the game is closed as it is believed that Bouteflika will prevail.

Former head of government Ahmed Benbitour believes that the forthcoming elections are the last chance for Algeria to conduct a peaceful change to the ruling system. “This would be in favor of the country and the rulers as well,” he said.

“We have always said that internal and external environments allow Algeria for the first time to change the ruling system in a peaceful way in favor of the country and rulers at the same time,” he told Echorouk.

He believes that those elections are an opportunity to make a change expected by Algerians and it is an occasion for rulers to avoid the end of some Arab leaders such as Libya’s Gaddafi, Tunisia’s Ben Ali and Egypt’s Mubarek.

He also said people’s mobilization to face fraud motivates for conduction transparent elections. “I am confident that people will support me to make that hoped change.”

Leader of the Algerian National Front Moussa Touati criticized parties, media and civil society organizations responsible for keeping silent over the constitutional amendment in 2008 which enabled Bouteflika to run for a third term.

Touati who will run for office in the next elections believes that administration and parties in power want the president to win a fourth term. “We challenge them to conduct transparent elections under the supervision of national and international organizations,” he said.

He described Algeria’s FLN party call for a fourth term as “inheritance of power through money,” saying his party will continue fighting to reach transparency standards in the next elections.

“We will work on revealing truths. If we see that the presidential elections game is closed in accordance to power conditions, we will boycott the event and we will announce to the whole world that we were witness of the assassination of people’s voice.”

Leader of Algeria’s Change Front Abdelmadjid Menasra believes that the game has not been closed yet as President Bouteflika did not announce his political future although the FLN called on him to run for office.

He said the FLN’s call is not something new as it is its only choice. “Anyway, the presidential elections game is not over.”

He added that there many possibilities for the elections. President Bouteflika may not have any intention to run for office and he may not be able to continue ruling Algeria even if he wants to.