In Independence Day speech, Bouteflika supports army and reform

2007-07-06

In a speech on Algeria's National Day, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika voiced his support for the army and stressed the country's need for institutional reform. Notably absent was any discussion of a proposed constitutional referendum, a question that has already kept Algerians waiting more than a year.

By Achira Mammeri for Magharebia in Algiers – 06/07/2007

[Achira Mammeri] President Bouteflika vowed to continue the fight against terrorism

In an Independence Day speech given Thursday (July 5th) at the National Defence Ministry, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika discussed the military and its fight against terrorism, as well as the state of economic reforms in the country.

Bouteflika showed his support for the Algerian army, calling on them to relentlessly continue the fight against terrorism. "As supreme commander of the armed forces, I order the various security corps to intensify their efforts in the objective to exterminate the remnants of terrorism", he said.

The president called the recent resurgence of bombings in Algeria "appalling", and stressed the need for "greater vigilance" on the part of all Algerians. He invoked "the debate of ideas and dialogue" as the principal method for fighting extremism, adding it is the "foundation on which we wish to build our democracy".

On the subject of institutional reform, the Algerian leader cited the "opportunity for change [in] the management of state institutions". He described such change as "imperative", at the local level as well as the national level. Bouteflika also acknowledged, in thinly disguised terms, the failure of economic reforms underway since his presidency began in 1999. Algerians, he said, "continue, despite every effort granted by the authorities concerned, to drink and breathe petroleum". The president, who pumped a budget approaching $50m dollars into various economic programmes, said it is a situation that cannot continue. He urged the government to find an alternative solution, citing the damage caused by unstructured and over-indebted enterprises to the public treasury.

Contrary to recent speculation in the media, the president did not discuss the subject of constitutional referendum. Since first discussing the idea in 2005, a referendum on expanding the powers of the president has been postponed, from 2006 to this year.

In a statement to Magharebia, Issaad Mohamed of the Movement of Society for Peace declared himself "extremely surprised" the president did not announce a date for the revision of the constitution. Discussions are underway, he said, between the two parliamentary chambers to finalise the referendum.

Sarah, a 35-year-old homemaker, told Magharebia she "would have liked it to be announced today, to bring an end to speculation." Apparently, she said, "the president is determined to keep us in suspense."