RND: Ouyahia’s stalwarts fall backwards in party rostrum

The stalwarts who were backing through thick and thin the former Secretary General of the RND Party Ahmed Ouyahia, who tendered his resignation earlier this year, have been pushed down in the Party ranks or at the level of the various state institutions.

The recent elections for the picking out of the RND legislative bureau in the National Popular Assembly have brought about sweeping changes with RND stalwarts faithful to Ouyahia’s policy line being ruled out from the top roster.

New RND party militants who were in the backwoods during the Ouyahia era were awarded senior positions in the RND party’s parliamentary bureau  in a bid to inject new life into the eroded party machine in expectation of the upcoming 2014 Presidential elections.

Ouyahia’s men who have been thrown in the scrap-heap are accused of having dismally failed to lead the RND Party to a resounding victory in the latest parliamentary polls.

However, political analysts suggest that Ahmed Ouyahia himself is not out of course politically as he still has more than one string in his bow.

The RND’s prospects:

Since former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia resigned from his post as Secretary General last year, the position in National Democratic Rally (RND) – the second largest in the country – has not been filled. The party’s congress is due to take place sometime between June and September this year, when a new Secretary General will be elected.

Despite this resignation, Ouyahia could well be a solid frontrunner in the presidential race. He may not be liked by the general public but he is nonetheless respected for his ability; he has a strong and efficient political network, support amongst the political fringes and tremendous political experience.

Importantly, while all the other potential candidates are in their late sixties and early seventies (apart from Sellal who is 64), Ouyahia is aged 61. In a country where half of the population is less than 30 years old, this could prove an important parameter for many voters.