Saâdani: “Bouteflika sent reassuring message to both military and civilians before his expected election bid”

The Secretary General of the FLN party, Amar Saâdani, has affirmed that President Bouteflika’s latest message was destined to the military and the civilians alike enjoining them to put a definitive end to the current polemics about the role and prerogatives of the Army institution and the other constitutional institutions.

The head of state’s stern message has restored calm and confidence ahead of the decisive presidential electoral contest set for April 17^th 2014, Saâdani underscored in a statement made to Echorouk on Tuesday.

The FLN party Secretary General also affirmed that he was not concerned directly by President Bouteflika’s message saying it was destined to all the Algerians on the occasion of the commemoration of the Chahid or Martyr’s day coinciding with February 18^th of each year.

Amar Saâdani also noted that there was every likelihood that President Bouteflika’s message to the nation on this solemn occasion, precedes the much-awaited announcement of his candidacy for next April’s presidential elections.

The FLN party fully adheres to President Bouteflika’s message and pledges to respect it, he added.

In his message read out by the war veterans or Mujahidine minister on Tuesday, President Bouteflika said there were no divisions between the Algerian military and the intelligence services despite bitter exchanges in the media over the past few weeks.

President Bouteflika, 76, said this “fictitious conflict between the institutions of the National Popular Army” were part of a plot to destabilize the country.

“This process was unfortunately helped by the irresponsible behaviour of some and lack of maturity of others under the influence of the media war against Algeria,” he said.

President Bouteflika did confirm a widely rumoured restructuring of the country’s intelligence services in September, maintaining it was a normal process and not evidence of any crisis.