Presidential elections: 15 candidates withdrew application forms

Algerian interior minister Tayeb Belaiz said 15 candidates for the presidential elections have withdrawn application forms so far while the administration is commits to enable candidates to run for office in honest conditions.

Asked by opposition parties about the creation of an independent committee to supervise the elections, Belaiz told Parliament the administration will be impartial and will take all the measures stipulated by elections law.

“I hope that the elections would be held in circumstances of high responsibility spirit and pure nationalism,” he said.

“I also hope that everyone would give the opportunity to candidates to compete in transparency through political, economic, social and cultural programs which sincerely express people’s ambitions and expectations,” he added.

The minister used the word “cavaliers” to speak about candidates. “All the cavaliers will be equal in the electoral campaign which will be conducted in transparency.”

“People will make the final decision in absolute freedom,” he added.

A number of political parties such as the MSP movement, the Algerian Popular Movement and the RND have not declared their final position toward the elections yet.