Echorouk's Forum: Algerian party leader's rival says he will not be in a bureau presided by his opponent

Abdelmadjid Menasra who is in competition with the president of Movement for Peace and Society (MSP) party Abu Djerra Soltani on the leadership of the movement in its fourth congress said he will never be in a bureau headed by Soltani.

“I have totally played my roles to advise Soltani and criticize some of his choices but he did not listen,” MSP’s vice-president told Echorouk on Monday. Soltani was said to have been ill-treated by his opponents led by Menasra in serious skirmishes during the proceedings of the party’s fourth congress.For his part, Menasra denied that act indicating that the congress was characterized by tension. “Yet, it is not a justification for error.”  

“Election of the movement’s president by the congress has dictatorial character”   

According to Menasra, the election of the movement’s president from the congress and not from its consultation council has a dictatorial aspect. “The trust of the congress representatives in the consultation council’s members makes the council eligible for electing the president.”“Democratic election needs to mandate institutions and structures to ensure control on the president,” he added.  Menasra said his change program will carry reforms to participate inside the government.Asked about MSP’s performance in the government, he said all reports show the good job of the Islamic party’s ministers.On the other hand, he described his movement as an “orphan child” inside the presidential alliance but he denied any weak situation of it. 

“We received many complaints and petitions against the party’s ministers but we did not efficiently follow them up”  

MSP’s vice-president admitted that many complaints and petitions were presented against the movement’s ministers and representatives in the government.“Such complaints naturally come from sectors and institutions where public deals and financial interests occupy a big part.”“Unfortunately, there is no efficient mechanism to follow up those complaints whether they are based on real facts or they are just conspiracies.”In this regard, the former minister suggests a new institution to follow up and assess the performance of the party’s representatives and ministers in all levels.  

New ideas to give back roles to first founders  

Abdelmadjid Menasra said his ideas want to give the first founders’ team its role back as a voice of wisdom to guide decisions.   

“Postponement of candidacy does not mean that everything stopped” 

MSP’s vice-president said he will not officially run for the leadership of the party only in the consultation council’s session which is held after the congress of the president election. Soltani’s main rival added that the postponement of his candidacy does not mean that everything stopped. “We believe in the necessity of making changes from any position for the good sake of the movement.”  

“I hope that the presidential alliance opens discussion on constitutional amendment” 

Menasra said his movement will not show its position toward the constitutional amendment before knowing the contents of the amendment document.“I hope that a discussion is opened on this topic inside the presidential alliance.” On the other hand, he considered that Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s performance since he was in power popularly qualifies him for a third term.“Yet, there is a need to change policies and people in the next step because the postponement of citizens’ problems is unacceptable now,” he said.“The phenomenon of illegal migration in an oil country like Algeria is a shame,” he added.