Regime change in Algeria is national cause, says FLN former leader

Algeria’s regime is no more valid to run the country. Change is now a great national cause which must be treated in sincerity and transparency, said former Secretary General of the National Liberation Front (FLN) party Abdelhamid Mehri on Tuesday.

• “We want a peaceful change but it does not mean that it is no more than superficial change,” Abdelhamid Mehri told a news conference in Algiers.
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• “All the popular initiatives either on opinion expression, protests or marches are welcomes if they have an opinion or a project about changing the regime,” he added.
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• “I am speaking about regime change and not regime toppling which does not mean building the State.”
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• The FLN’s former leader gave two examples about the necessity of making a change to the regime. “Firstly, there have been no new parties since 1999 those some parties meet all the conditions. This is not in conformity to the Constitution. Because of that, the regime should be changed. The second example is about the president’s remarks about the failure of economic reforms.”
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• Bouteflika’s departure does not mean regime change
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• “In view of my experience in the 1988’s events, debate focused on the president’s departure to change the regime. Chadli quitted but the regime continued. Because of that, changing the president will not change the regime. We need to change institutions,” said Mehri.
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• “The regime can not be changed without changing persons,” he added.
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• “Calling for changing the regime is not an accusation of a person, a party, an institution or a generation. It is not neither traditional opposition to people in charge of the regime responsibilities.”
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• “The regime change needs a global objective deep approach far from verbal excessiveness and courtesy,” he said.
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• He believes that change can be made through popular social initiatives in various fields. “I call for a real debate about Municipality and Province Law suggested to Parliament as it is very important for the coming regime.”