Common corps vote triggers tension between surveillance commission and government

Algeria’s National Commission of Local Elections Surveillance criticized the government for ignoring its requests about ensuring the smooth running of voting.

“The Commission sent a letter to the Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and interior minister Dahou Ould Kablia, 15 days ago to check the government’s seriousness about laws related to common corps vote. Yet, we have not received any reply so far,” the Commission’s president Mohamed Seddiki told Echorouk.

“The interior minister verbally confirmed to me that common corps will vote by proxy in their home municipalities as stipulated by elections system-related organic law. Yet, this is not a complete answer as there was no written confirmation,” he added.

The common corps vote which led to extensive press coverage is still unclear.

A release posted on RCD’s website says the interior minister confirmed in a meeting with the party’s members that common corps will vote by proxy in their home municipalities.

President of RCD’s parliamentary group at the People’s National Assembly (APN) Ahmed Batatache confirmed the information to Echorouk.

Earlier, a member in a provincial commission said common corps will vote without proxy in their working places.

Some members of the National Commission of Local Elections Surveillance criticized it for keeping silence over the government’s response to its requests.

According to organic law on elections, the government is considered as a sovereign partner of the electing operation.

“The National Commission of Local Elections Surveillance was turned into an acoustic condemning commission and an administrative phenomenon to write reports. Its only role is to set up provincial and municipal commissions and distributing places to candidates,” the Commission’s vice-president Redouane Ben Attallah told Echorouk.

A release signed by the Commission’s president said criticism is meant to hit the Commission’s credibility. “Submitted requests are limited in material aspect without caring for the election operation at all.”

“The Commission did not make a difference between material and logistical aspects. The election operation can not be carried out without having means asked by the Commission,” says the release in response to the interior minister who criticized the Commission of asking for financial compensation.

Seddiki held the interior ministry responsible for the delay in setting up the Commission. “This is a clear and ill-intentioned exclusion of the Commission.”