Algeria's Bouteflika formally announces presidential run
2009-02-13
After months of speculation and controversial constitutional amendments in Algeria, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika finally announced his intention to run for re-election. While his supporters are energised, critics already doubt the upcoming poll's legitimacy.
By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 13/02/09
 [Said Jameh] Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will seek a third term. |
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika formally announced his intention Thursday (February 12th) to seek a third term in office, telling supporters that he will campaign as an "independent candidate".
Speaking before thousands of supporters and many government officials in Algiers, Bouteflika said he would run in response to the people's demand, vowing to continue the national reconciliation initiative and promoting the country’s development.
The 71-year-old president is considered the honorary president of the National Liberation Front (FLN), which has the majority in the elected assemblies.
Three major parties in Algeria support him in the next presidential election: the FLN, the National Democratic Assembly (RND) led by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, and the Movement for a Society of Peace (MSP) led by state minister Abou Djerra Soltani. Bouteflika has also won the support of scores of civil society organizations, the most prominent of which is the veterans group the National Mujahideen Organisation.
The president's ability to run for a third term came after Parliament amended the constitution on November 12th, abolishing presidential term limits and allowing him to seek a third term.
Bouteflika will face candidates with little political weight or popularity.
Opposition parties have declared they would boycott the election. The Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD)'s Secretary-General Said Saadi said he refused "to take part in the election as its results have already been decided in Bouteflika's favour".
On Thursday, Hocine Aït Ahmed's Socialist Forces Front (FFS) announced its intention to boycott the elections, for the fourth time since 1995.
FLN Secretary-General Abdelaziz Belkhadem said that members of the opposition "are free in their own positions". H4e added, "We will launch our election campaign to ensure our candidate stays president".
Bouteflika supporters joyfully received the announcement of his candidature. The FLN, RND and MSP held meetings for their cadres Thursday evening in which they declared their absolute support for him.
"Bouteflika's nomination is a guarantee for the stability of the country," said Belkhadem. "We will stand behind him to strengthen the institutions of the Republic and to develop the country and realize the well-being of our society."
Djamel ben Abdeslam, a leading figure in the Movement for National Reform (MRN), told Magharebia, "Everyone has the right to declare their intention to run in the elections. We shall take part in the presidential election in order to win, because we reject the policy of despair. We shall do our best in order to get our message across to the citizens."
Boycotting the election "doesn’t represent a solution, and it can’t achieve any result", he added. "Rather, we have to work extremely hard to convey the voice of opposition to the citizens and then sweep the arena."
The MRN nominated its secretary-general, Mohamed Djahid Younsi, for the next presidential election. Younsi will be the only Islamist candidate.
In his speech, Bouteflika reiterated his intention "to relentlessly fight all those who continue to kill civilians and carry arms against the citizens".
Bouteflika announced that he would continue to promote the country's development, setting aside $150 billion over the next five years to encourage investments and boost the economy. He said that "the global economic crisis will not have an effect on the stability of the country. Rather, the government will continue in creating investment projects."
He added that public and private investment under his stewardship had created 3.5 million jobs since 1999 and lowered the unemployment rate from 30% to 12% in the same period.
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َAmina de Mosta Posted 2009-02-13
Long live Bouteflika and long live Algeria. We are with you, go ahead. All Algerians are with you, Mr President. We wish you success in achieving your plans and completing what you have started. Thank you for everything. You are a real president. You have an incomparable popularity because you have worked hard for establishing peace and tranquility on this territory. So congratulations in advance for the new post and the third presidential mandate. I wish you long health and wellness…
Anonymous Posted 2009-02-13
What a joke There is nothing but dictators in the arab world, always changing the constitution to suite there greed and needs, why waste money on elections when we know what the outcome will be, dictators always win.
Admirateur Posted 2009-02-13
With his 72 years and all of his illnesses, Bouteflika cannot run in any race. A better title for this article ought to be “Bouteflika Sinks Deeper into the Presidential Chair”, He is still capable of doing this. He does what he can.
محمدعلئ Posted 2009-02-14
This man is not fit to be president of Algeria.
slimane babahammou Posted 2009-02-15
The official announcement of the candidacy of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the coming presidential elections and a third mandate is a honour for us and for the country from what we have witnessed. We will realise this by participating in the coming elections, God willing, long live Algeria.
سارة Posted 2009-02-15
Without comment.
صلاح/الجزائر Posted 2009-02-15
I see that Algeria in the presence of Bouteflika has joined, like most Arab countries, the totalitarian regime in rule which is the highest level of dictatorship. It is one of the forms of accession to this high rank. This reduces the nation with its institutions to a single and sole person surrounded by an arriviste, hypocrite group which is politically crippled who fear the leader more than they fear God the Almighty. We were expecting that Bouteflika would fear God and allow us to choose our future after he took 10 years of our lives in vain. The result of it is that this valiant nation which defeated the strongest colonial power feels that it lost the feeling of belonging to this nation for which it has sacrificed the dearest thing, young people of yesterday. But it becomes clear that we lost the past and present under this group.
Dahman El-Harrachi Posted 2009-02-16
Bouteflika used to be known as Bouterguiga (synonymous) since both mean "the one with firecrackers." People, regardless of bogus elections, might still vote for him because they know him. Period. Most are tired of killings. Bouterguiga seems to be succeeding in stopping the killings. Of course, he is not any better than any dictator in the neighborhood, but he might be able to keep the image of the government - which in reality is non-existent - intact for the people who long for a legitimate need for safety. Even an illusion of normalcy after over fifteen years of massacre will be welcomed.
Francois Terron_Paris Posted 2009-02-17
Indeed, effectively, the Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika figures amongst the best Arab presidents of the world. So, I think that it is his duty to return his country Algeria to the highest of the world’s current ranks.
karim Posted 2009-02-18
You know nothing, or I will tell you...It is better to say nothing.
جزائري Posted 2009-02-21
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is up to the task. But if you say that he didn’t stop the massacres, is 1990 like 2009? By God, shame on you. It is the right that should be followed. I ask you, what have you done to this country according to your means? Tell us what you have offered to this umma and nation. Or are you only good in criticising. Shame on you my brother.
Salim-Oran Posted 2009-02-22
From my reading of above comments which don’t approve the continuity of the respectable president in the chair of power, I was astonished at the attitude of the ungrateful! I am asking where Algeria was and what became of it. President Bouteflika succeeded in extracting Algeria from darkness to light. I personally remember days experienced by Algeria in terrorism circumstances which it managed to overcome courtesy to the policy adopted by the president. Algerian people couldn’t move between cities as there was a lack of security. Some areas were besieged by terrorists. But today conditions have changed. We can move about to the remotest point in the Algerian Sahara at any time without fear or concern. We can never ever compare current conditions with former conditions. We wish safety and protection of our country which is entrusted to you President Bouteflika. We hope that you resolve most of its problems. We trust you because you do well. We are proud of you as you are our president. Don’t mind what is said. You have a wide popularity with the Algerian people. An opinion only reflects the view of his author.
محمد صابر الجزائري Posted 2009-02-25
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika deserves most to be president of Algeria because he is respectable and didn’t stay permanently in office as he left an opportunity for his rivals. All Algerians are with him for the progress of the country and achieving development as they trust him. Algerians will show up in thousands to vote on the day of election. They will silence the supporters of boycott. Long live Algeria. Triumph and eternity to our faithful martyrs.
sawri Posted 2009-04-10
Long live Algeria strong and safe when our president is Bouteflika.
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