Rachid Nekkaz vies anew as candidate for May 4th legislative polls

Political activist, Rachid Nekkaz, has announced the registration of his candidacy for the 4th May 2017 legislative elections at the Algerian Consulate in Paris for the second time after the Algiers Administrative Court on March 19 upheld the authorities’ decision to reject his list as a representative of the Algerian community members residing in Paris.

“We must do everything from scratch,” Rachid Nekkaz wrote on his official Facebook page, “I ask 675 Algerian citizens who have signed up in the first time to return to the Consulates to sign the registration form again”, he said.

“All Algerians can also support and sign it”, he asserted.

“Thank you for your confidence and your efforts to back up my candidacy (before April 1st by mail and before April 3rd at the Consulates in the Paris region),” Mr Nekkaz said.

“Article 99 of the Algerian electoral law allows us to submit a new list in the name of (Nekkaz Rashid). The form must be printed and approved at the Consulate,” he further indicated.

“Please print the form and approve it at your respective Consulate to support the candidacy of Rashid Nekkaz in order to allow him to become a deputy as part of the May 4, 2017  legislative elections in Algeria, he added.”

Rachid Nekkaz was nominated to head an independent list to represent the Algerian community members residing in France in the upcoming legislative, but his candidacy file was turned down by the Consulate of Paris.

On 16 March, Mr Rachid Nekkaz filed an appeal before the Administrative Court of Algeria in accordance with article 98 of Organic Law 16.10 governing the electoral system. On March 19, the Administrative Court issued a decision denying the authorities’ appeal.

“With reference to the last paragraph of Article 98 of Organic Law 16.10, the decision of the Administrative Tribunal is not subject to any form of appeal,”  underscored Rachid Nekkaz, stressing that Article 99 thereby came into force by allowing his new candidacy bid.