Algeria sets election date

The countdown to legislative elections has begun.

By Nazim Fethi for Magharebia in Algiers – 10/02/12

Algerian legislative elections will be held May 10th, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced Thursday (February 9th).

In a national address lasting under 10 minutes, the president called for "massive participation" of young people in the vote, saying that it was necessary for the new parliament to be credible.

Bouteflika said the legislative polls would be the first stage in political reforms announced last April. Last year, the president said the new parliament would be charged with amending the constitution.

On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved an order expanding the People's National Assembly (APN) from 389 seats to 462.

The council also approved a presidential decree outlining how the national commission to supervise the next legislative elections will be organized and how it should work. Comprising magistrates only, that commission was created in response to demands from political figures and parties.

Speaking at the end of the Tuesday session that expanded the APN and set up the election commission, President Bouteflika said he expects the government to "complete all the organizational, material and logistical arrangements needed for the smooth running of the legislative elections".

Interior Minister Dahou Ould Kablia gave his own assurance yesterday that work to issue acknowledgements of receipt of the political parties' constitutional submissions would continue "in total equity and transparency".

The Justice and Liberty Party (PLJ), chaired by Belaïd Mohand Oussaïd, was the first to receive an acknowledgement that its constitutional application had been received, according to an interior ministry statement.

In an attempt to get loopholes tightened up, some parties have stepped up their rhetoric in recent days, threatening not to take part in the forthcoming legislative elections unless a "neutral" government is designated to organize the elections.

"We shall boycott the forthcoming legislative elections unless the President of the Republic dissolves the current government and appoints another," said Hamlaoui Akouchi, El-Islah's secretary-general. "We shall wait until the electoral body is called; if our demands have not been considered, then we shall be forced not to take part in the forthcoming elections."

Algeria's Ennahda movement had similar demands. Meanwhile, Front for Change leader Abdelmadjid Menasra called for observers to be sent in by Europe, the United States and the United Nations, rejecting those from the Arab League and African Union. Menasra's party is due to hold its congress February 17th-18th. The party foresees "a second republic and a new constitution".

Khaled Bounedjma, National Front for Social Justice (FNJS) chairman, even asked Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia's ministers to resign, saying it would allow a neutral government to be appointed.

Abdallah Djaballah's Front for Liberty and Justice (FLJ), meanwhile, was supposed to hold its constitutional assembly this week in Algiers, but had to postpone the event because of the snow.

The interior ministry has been swift to give approval to no fewer than 17 new parties. Among those parties, some know they have little chance of winning many votes, but they feel that participation in the ballot would be an ideal opportunity to make themselves known to voters.

They include the Union of Democratic and Social Forces, chaired by former minister Noureddine Bahbouh. "We don't expect to win a large number of seats. We want to present the arguments for our plans. The election campaign will be an opportunity to make ourselves known," he said.

The national coordinator of the Youth Party (PJ), Dr Hamana Boucharma, called for the legislative elections to be delayed at least until the summer, to give them time to prepare for this crucial event.

At a press briefing as part of preparations for the party's constitutional assembly, Dr Boucharma denounced the "unexplained" behavior of some local administrative officials, who refused to grant his party members permission to hold their general assemblies.

Meanwhile, the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), led by Said Sadi, is threatening to boycott the vote. The opposition party's national council will meet next week to make a final decision.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2012/02/10/feature-02.