Islamist Political Parties are Similar, Ali Belhadj says
The second leader in the Islamic Front for Salvation (FIS), Ali Belhadj, called upon political parties to boycott the upcoming elections, saying that the participation would “give a new opportunity for the system to continue the policies that have failed at all levels”, a position which he said he expressed in an earlier statement.
Belhadj said during his visit to Echorouk newspaper on Sunday that;“The current system’s policies are unsuccessful, and Algerians should respond to this failure through boycotting the legislative elections of May 10”, in what appeared an implicit response to statements made by Hashemi Sahnoune, a leader who left FIS , and called citizens to vote for the lists of the Front for change, led by the former Minister,Abdelmadjid Menasra.
“Boycotting the elections is a political choice that must be respected by the authorities and allow freedom to defend this decision. The one who calls for boycotting the polls has a political program, so he is part of the political class. Many of the political parties criticise the regime, but do not dare to call for boycotting the elections “ .
Previously the Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, attacked the advocates of the boycott, and said in this regard:” Boycotting the elections is not a political program,” what appeared to be the position of the government which refuses to allow those who take this decision to call for it, knowing that the Rally for Culture and Democracy, is the only party that called for the boycott.
In a related context, Belhadj asserted that he did not called upon Algerians to vote with a white paper because a situation like that would serve the system where no one knows, and would contribute to raising the participation rate, and this is the authority’s objective on May 10 elections, for use in political interests with foreigners without considering the internal interests.
Ali Belhadj refused to comment on the Islamic alliance, which includes the Movement for Peace and Society, Annahda “Movement for the Renaissance” and the National Reform Movement, saying: “We oppose the system, not the opposition, because opposing the opposition is favored by the system”. The spokesman noted that the “Bloc of Green Algeria” is a political diligence, and they are free, adding that the Islamic parties which are active in the country are not different from the rest of the other non Islamic parties” .