NEC chief to Echourouk: The failure of the reforms would be disastrous for Algeria
The head of the National Economic Council Mohammed Seghir BabesIn has dwelt in a long- ranging interview with Echourouk on the details of the reforms initiated by the president and the Algerian citizens about them.
- Babes has indicated that these reforms stem from the people’s will to make a radical change and do not obey to any foreign pressure, noting in case of failure to fulfil the objectives this time around, the consequences will be disastrous for the Algerian people.
- Echourouk: In which the series of consultations conducted by NEC with the civil society has contributed to determine the priorities of the Algerian reforms?
- Babes: First of all, Algeria had to choose between two solutions, either to start a series of reforms through a battery of laws to live up to the people’s expectations temporarily, or edify new bases to pave the way for reforms stemmed from the people’s will. The president Bouteflika has , in this respect, insisted since 2009 to reignite the role of the National Economic Council and entrust it with conducting these reforms in close conjunction with large parts of the civil society.
- Echourouk: Are you optimistic as to the usefulness of this process in the fulfilling the objectives of the reforms?
- Babes: My optimism grows day by day, the Algerian citizens from all the corners of the country have shown a great sense of belonging to this nation and we have understood through the series of consultations that the Algerian society has grasped the goals of this process. The experts of the NEC will record all the suggestions and take them into account during the elaboration of draft project to avoid falling in the same mistakes again.
- Echourouk: This means that the issue is serious this time around; can the Algerians dream of a change?
- Babes: When the president honored me with this mission, some believed that the process was meant to calm the spirits amid the unrests that swept through the Arab nations and others predicted the failure of these reforms, but the Algerian president has put it clear during his program that the role of the NEC is key in conducting the reforms.