Sellal asks ministers to prepare “Bouteflika’s program” for 2014-2019

Algeria’s cabinet Tuesday continued its weekly meeting to hear ministers’ presentation about public sectorial investments, the achievement of Algeria’s five-year-plan and allocated money for President Bouteflika’s program.

This comes ahead of the next five-year-plan shortly before presidential elections due to be held in April. It will be Bouteflika’s main program for his electoral campaign if he runs for office.

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal started holding hearing sessions for ministers as they have to make detailed presentations about the sectorial public investments program.

According to sources, Sellal asked ministers to prepare the new five-year-plan before the end of the year.

Observers believe that the new plan will be exploited in President Bouteflika’s electoral campaign for the presidential elections due to be held in April if he runs for office.

Ministers Tuesday heard the presentation of public works minister Farouk Chili about public investments.

Earlier last week, health minister Abdelmalek Boudiaf made a presentation about the same topic. He said 80 percent of the projects have not been achieved yet.

Public treasury has paid $220 billion for development projects since 2004, the same sources say.

The State allocated $100 billion for the five-year-plan 2005-2009 and $286 billion for 2010-2014.

Reports show that results were disappointing compared to planned objectives and the allocated money.

The same sources say the difference between the paid money and the allocated some for the two five-year-plans shows enterprises failure as 60 percent only of allocated money was used up in 2005-2014. That means 40 percent only of the president’s program was achieved.

The Prime Minister will use the report as reference to prepare the General Policy Communiqué due to be presented to the People’s National Assembly early next year.