Ghanouchi: Algeria’s Islamists should choose a candidate for presidential elections

Leader of Tunisia’s Nahda Movement Rached Ghanouchi says the government will not resign as convened earlier in national dialogue sessions and the movement is not responsible for that.

 Ghanouchi believes that there is a campaign against Islamists in Egypt and Tunisia. He advised Algeria’s Islamists to look for a candidate to run for office.

What does your presence at the conference of Algeria’s Nahda movement mean?

Nahda Movement and Islamic movements in Algeria share the same references and perspectives. We reject violence to reach political goals. Our movement and Algeria’s Nahda condemn terrorism and share the same Islamic national reference and the same Maghreb’s unity strategy.

Can we say that the fight against terrorism in Tunisia is linked to security coordination with Algeria?

No doubt that there is a large cooperation between the Algerian and Tunisian armies and security forces. Coordination led to very positive results in terms of fighting terrorism thanks to Algeria’s big experience.

I would like to say that cooperation is not just on security issues but there is also a big economic and commercial cooperation.

Does your visit to President Abdelaziz Bouetflika represent a sort of political coordination to overcome the crisis?

I met President Bouteflika who has been my friend for years. We talked about many aspects including the situation in Tunisia and the Arab World.

 What is your advice to Algeria’s Islamists in terms of the forthcoming presidential elections?

They should agree on a candidate even if he does not belong to the Islamist trend. This is my conviction either in Tunisia or here in Algeria.