Moussa Touati sees Algerian presidency within reach

2009-04-05

Days before Algeria's presidential elections, candidate Moussa Touati is working vigorously to get his message across to voters. The FNA party chief feels he has a rock-solid chance at unseating Bouteflika.

By Achira Mammeri and Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 05/04/09

[Getty Images] Moussa Touati stirs up prospective voters at a rally in Chlef on March 30th.

Algerian National Front (FNA) chairman and presidential candidate Moussa Touati believes his role is more than that of "hare" in a race that some argue has already been decided in favour of the incumbent, two-term president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Touati, who was close to the seat of power during the 1980s and then became a member of the opposition, feels that he has a "real chance" at taking the presidential mandate.

"Contrary to what has been said by many analysts, the outcome of the ballot is by no means all tied up," Touati said. To get his message out, he has been holding campaign rallies in 36 of the country's 48 wilayas.

The awareness-raising roadshow is still travelling the country, even though the FNA is terribly short of funds: "We've spent practically all the money that the party put aside for this contest," the FNA communications representative told Magharebia.

The determined party chief is forging ahead with his presidential ambitions. As the calendar edges closer to Election Day on Thursday (April 9th), Touati is already wearing the hat of future president of the republic, promising many things to a population that has turned its back on politics.

Touati made it clear that, if elected to the highest office in the country, his first decision would be "to dissolve the National People's Assembly (APN), since it sits uncomfortably with the interests of the people". This campaign promise is designed to appeal to Algerians angered by a parliament that voted for MP salary hikes while rejecting draft bills aimed at improving citizens' purchasing power.

Another element of the FNA platform directly targets young people, who represent 75% of the population and more than 70% of voters. Touati has promised to reduce the mandatory military service term from 18 to 6 months.

Also of interest to young voters are his promises to draw up "new ethical rules on employment" and "uphold freedom of expression, liberalisation of the broadcast media, and liberalisation of advertising".

The future and stability of Algeria, Touati says, lie in food self-sufficiency. To make this possible, his economic programme hinges upon agriculture and investment.

Rather than choosing to write off farmers' debts like Bouteflika, Touati said he would concentrate on "productive sectors which can create jobs, looking again at the land, how it’s worked, and encouraging (profit-making) farmers."

Algerians have different views about Touati's programme.

Amine, 19, is prepared to vote for Touati, "if only for his proposals on military service".

"Touati promises many things," university student Souhila told Magharebia, "but doesn't say how he expects to make his plans a reality."

Hocine Boulahia, key media figure and political analyst, believes that Moussa Touati has politically matured since the 2007 municipal and parliamentary elections campaign. He is now capable of developing the kind of political messages that can attract voters and win the approval of citizens.

Touati introduced himself to voters as the candidate of the poor; his stump speech across Algeria delved into the woes and concerns of simple, disadvantaged citizen in dire need of the country assistance, Boulahia explained.

However, the potential success of this populist angle is undercut by Touati's selection of staff, he noted. "His party, the Algerian National Front, is now made up of a hybrid of cadres which dissent with other political parties. That, in turn, makes him a vulnerable candidate, since their loyalty is not stable, and cannot be relied on in running the affairs of the state."

Given the power of Bouteflika, Boulahia believes that Touati is unlikely to win at the polls on Thursday. He adds, however, that among the challengers to the president, Touati will probably fare the best.