Menasra: “Algeria is being targeted… and the year 2017 will be unbearable”

Mr. Abdelmadjid Menasra, leader of the Front of Change, warned against the dangers of the next phase for the Algerians, saying that “the year 2017 will be the hardest, and it would not be bearable for the population”, justifying his fear by “the total absence of search for solutions and burden-sharing in the current government’s policy”.

He added that crisis didn’t stem only from the scathing decline of oil prices on the world market, but rather stem from the civil administration’s failure in dealing properly with management matters, likening the ailing Algerian economy to a plane flying with a single-engine, if the latter is busted, then the plane will automatically make a forced landing or dismally crash, he pointed out.

During his inauguration, Sunday, the 26th Edition of the monthly Forum of the Front of Change, Mr. Menasra hit out against some adverse measures included in the draft 2017 Finance Act, including the myriad painful increases in taxes which will according to him, greatly affect the pockets of the citizens, such as the price hikes in gasoline, passport issuing, medications, and the rental of apartments, houses and shops, stressing that all of those taxes won’t benefit too much the Government, because they will be ineffective, as he put it.

He further described the country’s current social juncture as “extremely difficult”, stressing that “the Government does not know how to foster a genuine dialogue with the social partners”, citing as a telling example the bitter polemics about the burning file of the retirement draft law which has touched off, he said, the ire of the trade unions and sizable sections of the Algerian society, adding that “Algeria needs more than ever before deep and real reforms so as to wriggle out of its current crisis situation”.