Sellal to Echorouk TV: Said Bouteflika has never intervened in my prerogatives

Algeria’s former Prime Minister and director of president candidate Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s electoral campaign Abdelmalek Sellal talked to Echorouk TV about the president’s achievements and described them as positive. He denied allegations about the involvement of Bouteflika’s involvement in running the country’s affairs.

Former President Liamine Zeroual delivered a statement after a long silence. What do you think about it?

I read it. President Zeroual is a well-known national personality. He played an important role in a sensitive period of Algeria’s history. He accomplished his duty and roles. I acknowledge his capacities. I had the honor to work with him as an interior minister. As for his statement, it is accepted in democratic debate. This is democracy.

President Zeroual said being a president is a heavy mission. Don’t you think that he meant Bouteflika’s health condition?

We have talked about the president’s health state for many times. I am almost in daily contact with him. He is doing well. Algeria needs Bouteflika to protect it by his wisdom.

You present President Bouteflika to justify the fourth term while you say Algeria is the state of institutions.

The constitutional system is based on institutions. The president is the main reference which leads the army, foreign policy and the country’s economy. It has parliamentary institutions and an army. Each institution plays its roles. The president achieves coherence between those institutions. I think that President Bouteflika started working and he has achievements. This give him the right to continue working.

You criticized the Arab Spring and said its insects must be eliminated. What do you mean?

I meant that we faced the so-called Arab Spring and prevent the “insect” from entering. It is about the country’s future.

You promised to present the government’s achievements and you did not do that. Why?

I will present my achievements to Parliament if our candidate succeeds. The General Policy Communiqué was not presented because of time only.

What do you think about corruption scandals such as the East-West Motorway and Sonatrach cases?

We did not deny corruption and we have never covered it. We fought corruption and introduced an important number of cases into justice. We signed all the anti-corruption international treaties. Corruption must not be used to give a bad image about everything.

Algerian people are afraid that the AADL housing project is no more than an electoral mean.

The quarter of a million houses of the AADL project is guaranteed. Their money is allocated. Works started in many sites either Boutefllika is elected as president or not.

You said President Boutefliak’s fourth term is like the German chancellor raised a controversy.

My comparison was based on the Constitution and regimes which allow their officials to run for office. The same thing is for England. Tony Blair had ruled for two terms and a half.

Did the president’s brother Said Bouteflika intervene in your work?

Said has never intervened in my work. He is an advisor. He had the right to defend his brother. Where is the problem here?

What do you think about Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelaziz Belkhadem’s appointment?

This is the president’s decision. They do their job assigned by him.