Former Algerian PM Sid Ahmed Ghozali to Echourok: Struggles for leadership overshadowed social issues.

The former Algerian Premier Sid- Ahmed Ghozali has indicated that clinging to power leads to the accumulation of social problems, adding that “ An economic crisis is soon followed by a social one leading to a political stalemate, and the Algerian history has witnessed numerous struggles over leadership overshadowing social issues, since the death of Houari Boumedienne pushing the successive authorities to drift away from their missions”.

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• In a wide –ranging interview with Echourok, Ghozali has noted that changing the government will not bring anything new amidst a total helplessness of the political parties to lead the masses.
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• Echourok: what can you tell about the latest protests that erupted in Algeria and the manner to deal with ?
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• Ghozali: The phenomenon is not new, we‘ve been witnessing social protests since a long time, the difference lies in their redundancy; we are facing an old phenomenon which spread over various parts of the country this time around.
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• Echourok:  Where lies the difference between the 1988 revolt and this one , according to you?.
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• Ghozali: The latest unrests translate the Algerian citizens’ doldrums, because talking about food crisis is a lure; the demands go beyond this. We cannot talk about bread without dignity, this anger reflects a widespread frustration among a vast category of Algerians especially youngsters.
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• Echourok:  as a former Prime Minister within the same regime, what did you achieve?
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• Ghozali: when I was in the government, I forwarded the members of my cabinet to the parliament for endorsement, and declared then, that the previous governments including mine were lacking a popular legitimacy. We have never succeeded to get rid of the taboo of legitimacy.
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• Echourok:  Do you consider that the individual is marginalized in Algeria?
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• Ghozali: The Algerian citizen is currently not allowed to play his role in the society and this is an infringement to the principle of freedom of expression and other civil liberties; actually, what occurs in reality is just the opposite. For instance, the constitution guarantees the right of assembling and creation of political parties and other political association, is that possible for everybody?. The most striking examples are the Democratic Front Party and Wafa party which have fulfilled all the requirements but they are not allowed to take part to the political activities.
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• Echourok:  What’s your stand about the march of February 12 ?
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• Ghozali: I didn’t call for it, still every Algerian has the right to protest in a peaceful manner, marches are allowed according to the constitution and they are legitimate, because population is not satisfied with the leaving conditions. By and large, the Algerian society, with a large majority of youngsters, has the right to express its discontent over the prevailing situation and the decision makers shouldn’t perceive it as threat.
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• Echourok:  what about the emergency state?
• Ghozali: the emergency state was imposed under special circumstances and meant by to protect the country’s security, but things have improved since and the regime has boasted the outcomes of the national reconciliation process, which is an implicit acknowledgement that the argument the state of emergency doesn’t stand anymore unless it insist on clamping down civil liberties.
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