Islamists Withdraw From President’s Alliance, Stick On the Government

The Islamist Movement of the Society for Peace has finally decided to withdraw from the alliance with the two Parliament major parties, the National Democratic Rally (RND) and the National Liberation Front (FLN), and yet urged President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to form a technocratic government to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The Shura Council of the MSP party, which wrapped up later Saturday, concluded, however, to maintain the party’s ministers in the current government.

The push and pull over the issue of whether to continue or to withdraw from President’s alliance was displayed in the interventions of 95 members out of the existing 250 of the Shura Council, which finally drew up a consensual declaration. It stipulates putting an end to eight years alliance with the RND and the FLN in power, and urging President Bouteflika to call up a technocratic government tasked of monitoring the parliamentary elections of 2012.  

Yet, Head of MSP, Aboudjerra Soltani called upon Algerians “to craft the reforms, through massive vote in next elections, and ultimately bring change serenely.”

The withdraw of MSP insignificant, says FLN

The spokesman for the FLN, Kassa Aissa told Echorouk reporter that the withdrawal of the MSP is insignificant, calling it “a tactical move” with electoral ends. 

“We have known that they (the MSP) have been planning to withdraw for about a year; and I’d say that such a move is insignificant,” Mr Kassa said, stressing that “the aims to which the alliance has been formed are still existing, namely the implementation of President Bouteflika’s program.” He further added that “the alliance is strategic for the FLN, rather than tactical,” in reference to the MSP’s withdrawal seen as serving electoral ends. 

RND: The progress of Algeria must go on

As for the other alliance party, the RND, the withdrawal of the MSP is “regrettable”, and yet is part of the party’s sovereignty. 

The Spokesman for the RND told Echorouk reporter that “We just regret such a withdrawal, but it would never hamper the progress of Algeria,” adding that “We hope that next elections would be a field of concurrence rather than combat.”