Mesbah: Zeroual is the only man who can preserve President Bouteflika’s dignity

Former officer in Algeria’s military intelligence Mohamed Chafik Mesbah exposes the reasons behind his position in favor of choosing Liamine Zeroual to be the country’s next president in a transition phase.

Political vacuum brought military institution back

Political analyst says the “political vacuum” in the country has brought the military institution back to the arena.

“The military and security institutions were unwillingly involved in the political arena due to the political vacuum in Algeria,” he added.

Mesbah talked about the 1990’s and explained the relation between political power and the military institution.

“The military institution was a tool in the hands of political power but it was turned into a player in the political game following the setting up of Algeria’s High Council of State.”

Mesbah also said the military institution’s role has remarkably evolved in the last few years. “The security institution is playing other roles including the fight against corruption and spying.”

“New things have happened in the internal situation of the military and security institution since President Bouteflika came. He managed to separate between them,” he added.

He believes that the military and security institutions can not appoint a president unwanted by people.

“Zeroual is the right man as he will preserve President Bouteflika’s dignity”

Mesbah said he is convinced that Algerian former President Zeroual will be able to lead a transitional period and preserve current president’s dignity if he leaves power.

“We can not put pressure on former President Liamine Zeroual using political logic but we have to deal with him from a moral aspect. We have to show him that people want him and not officials,” he told Echorouk in an interview.

“I can not confirm the man will accept but I am sure that he will care about such requests. The door is still open,” he added.

He believes that the current situation can not continue as it is until 2014. “I think that anticipated elections are in the interest of the current president and Algeria.”

France has a complex to Islamists

The politics expert says foreign countries play a role in choosing Algeria’s presidents including France, the US and the European Union.

He believes that the US is a pragmatic state but has a big capacity in making theories at the same time. “Its intelligence played an important role in the changes which have recently taken place in the Arab region.”

He added that the US knows that there is a big vacuum in Algeria and that the security and military institutions which cab play an important role in covering the current political vacuum.

“The US has worked on establishing ties between the security and military institution and the Islamist movement.”

“That would be done if the Islamist movement respects the democratic game rules according to the US in return for accepting it by the military and security institution.”

Mesbah believes that France has a complex in the Islamist movement and wants a strong democratic movement in Algeria. “Unfortunately, there is no democratic movement in Algeria.”

“Sellal will have to pay the price if he runs for office”

According to former intelligence officer, Bouteflika appointed Abdelmalek Sellal as Prime Minister as he believed the man had no political ambition.

“Honestly, I may not politically agree with the Prime Minister but he is a friend of mine. He was appointed as the president trusted him, he is able to listen to all the partners and he does not have a political ambition,” he said.

“I hope that Sellal will be away from any political ambition but if he runs for office, he has to pay the price for that,” he added.

He also said the Prime Minister’s working visits to different provinces in Algeria before Bouteflika had fallen ill aimed at preparing for a fourth presidential term.

“If Sellal continues this campaign, it may be possible that he is getting prepared to succeed President Bouteflika.”