Presidential Elections 2014: President Bouteflika has many competitors
الشروق أونلاين
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Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria's President. Photo: archives
Number of those who deposited files to run for Presidential Elections of April 17, after the Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal announced that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will run, reached more than 100 candidates, who withdrew their forms, as they will visit all cities of the country to win 60.000 signatures of voters, or 600 signatures of the elected, as the constitutional council will decide about the files of candidates before the start of the electoral campaign, 21 days before the polls’ day.
Interior Ministry, received during the first days since opening the way to run and take the forms of signatures that were addressed to the members of parliament councils and voters, 15 files of candidates who provided papers of candidacy, to start the collection of the required signatures, before the end of the legal time limits, within 45 days until March 4.
Former Prime Minister, Ali Benflis is the one of the most prominent candidates, as he was the biggest rival to President Bouteflika in the Presidential Elections of 2004, after he was director of his electoral campaign in 1999, then director of his office in the presidency and Prime Minister in Bouteflika’s first term.
Although Benflis has lost the capacity which he had previously, but he summons the strong personalities around him and supports of parties, like, the National Reform Movement for the Islamic movement, according to the announcement of Djahid Younsi, head of the movement, and the head of the Union of Democratic Social Forces, Noureddine Bahbouh.
Abdessalam Ali Rachdi, leader of “Sabil” Party, announced his support of Benflis, following Tahar Ben Baibache, leader of Al Fadjr al-Djadid (New Dawn), as well as the Benflis recruitment for hundreds of youths to support him, through the social networks.
Former Prime Minister, Ahmed Benbitour, was the first who launched the collection of signatures, as he is considered the first candidate who announced his candidacy early in November 2012, as both former PMs Benbitour and Benflis are among the prominent candidates, while the head the Algerian National Front, Moussa Touati, and head of the New Algerian Front, Djamal Ben Abdessalam, officially announced running for the elections.
Soufiane Djilali has decided to withdraw from the race after Bouteflika entered the competition for the fourth term. He thinks that things will be resolved in favor of the President Bouteflika, and candidates who are in sensitive positions in the state are keen to nominate Bouteflika to preserve their interests, despite the President’s health scare.
Leader of the Workers’ Party, Louisa Hanoune, will be in the race to serve the president by virtue of permanent praising of his achievements.
Algerian businessman who previously resided in France Rachid Nekkaz, made the exception, after deciding to waive his French citizenship and run for the Presidential Elections.
Former Treasury Secretary General, Ali Ben Nouari and head of the Algerian Rally Party, Ali Zaghdoud, are also running.
