This is what Bouteflika wants Ouyahia and Belkhadem to do before they are appointed

Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelaziz Belkhadem’s reappearance in the political scene raised questions about Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s intention to make the “change” expected by people.

Ouyahia, former leader of Algeria’s RND party Ouyahia kept slience when the new position was offered to him. That shows he accepted the offer after he had been absent and marginalized for more than a year.

Belkhadem, the FLN’s former Secretary General asked the president to postpone the offer until the presidential elections are over.

According to sources, President Bouteflika presented his offers in a meeting held with the two men, about a week ago.

Ouyahia had already held the position of chief of the President’s personal staff between 1994 and 1997. Belkhadem was appointed as the President’s personal representative between 2005 and 2008.

Observers believe that Ouyahia and Belkhadem was nominated at such positions after they had accepted to supervise Bouteflika’s electoral campaign for a fourth term.

Earlier, they were excluded from cabinet and dismissed from their parties by opposition members.

According to the same sources, President Bouteflika has learnt that Ouyahia and Belkhadem wanted to run for office while they showed the opposite.

Their reappearance shows that the same figures will remain in power after the elections. It is believed that senior positions including the vice-president position will be created following the next constitutional amendment.