Rabah Kebir: fourth term is a comedy

Former leading member at the dissolved-Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) Rabah Kbir said allegations about the party’s participation in the next presidential elections due to be held in April are “baseless” and Bouteflika’s fourth term is a “big comedy.”

Kbir told Echorouk he did not hear about any talks between the FIS’ senior members and candidate Ali Benflis.

“The FIS does not exist as a political actor even if it remains a social reality. Moreover, the elections are meaningless due to the current political conditions in the country,” he added.

He believes that the situation will not change as sought by people. “The elections will not express the free popular will. Because of that, any talks between the FIS’ leading members with any political party are a waste of time. There may be an attempt to fabricate such a controversy in order to cover the fourth term comedy which affected Algeria’s reputation.”

Speaking about his personal position, Kbir said the political field has been closed for a long time and no candidate can achieve his goal to reach power and concretize his commitments because the elections result is already decided.