Ghouzali: Chadli was preparing Mouloud Hamrouche as successor

The former Algerian Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghouzali has indicated that the late president Chadli Benjedid was not exercising his prerogatives as president after the troubles of October 1988, noting that he was planning to appoint the former PM Mouloud Hamrouche as his successor in office.

Replying to the question over the other circles that were rolling the country then, Ghouzali said” Chadli was considering Mouloud Hamrouche as his natural successor at the presidency”.

The former PM has asserted to Echourouk TV that Chadli Benjedid was negotiating with the representatives of the banned Islamic party (FIS) with the view to cohabitating in power after the cancellation of the 1992 legislative elections.

M Ghouzeali has indicated, in this respect, that the late president was brokering a deal with the leader of the (FIS) Abbasi Madani who assured him that his party will not threaten him provided that he rules the government.

He went on saying that the execution of the former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu during revolution of 1989, has really” overwhelmed him” but he later on declared that “ he was afraid over the stability of Algeria and not for his own fate”.
As to the conflicting versions over the resignation of the late president, M Ghouzali has admitted that Chadli Benjedid was under pressure, declining identifying the parties, for forwarding his resignation and stops the electoral process.
“Pressuring a president is something natural and one shouldn’t accuse any party since the last decision goes to the president”, he said. “ Chadli Benjedid was not a fool to accept his ousting”, he went on saying.
The former PM has recalled that he warned Chadli Benjedid against the coming into power of the Islamists” I said to Chadli if you let them rise to power, you’ll be the first one to be slaughtered… but he kept silent”.