Mohamed Djahid Younsi advocates change, supports reconciliation

2009-03-25

Presidential candidate Mohamed Djahid Younsi says he will stand for all Algerians if elected.

By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 25/03/09

[Said Jameh] Mohamed Djahid Younsi (top right) says no other candidate offers a clearer position on reconciliation.

El Islah candidate Mohamed Djahid Younsi is campaigning for president under a motto of change, urging his proponents to give him their votes in order to end the rule of current leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Younsi gave his campaign a confident kick-off on March 19th, angling to win the approval of some 20.6 million voters at more than 30 festivals across Algeria.

In an interview with Magharebia, Younsi said his election slogan, "This is Your Chance for Change", means it is time for Algeria to adopt a new way of running its affairs after ten years under Bouteflika.

Although he represents the Islamist Movement for National Reform, Younsi said he is not purely an Islamist candidate. Speaking from his campaign office, Younsi told Magharebia, "I am the candidate of all Algerians. I want to express the ambitions of them all, and not the ambitions of just one section. I am offering myself as the meeting point of all Algerians' aspirations... be they Islamist, national or democratic. I am proposing a full-fledged national project."

Younsi also pledged to continue the programme of national reconciliation to bring an end to the security crisis. "If pardoning armed activists will halt the bloodbath, we will adopt it, but not before consulting the people," he said.

Other candidates have supported national reconciliation, but Younsi said he is the only one to specifically advocate amnesty for members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Although Bouteflika is labelled by experts as the likeliest candidate in the April 9th vote, on account of his financial resources, party support and name recognition, Younsi believes he stands a good chance of success.

His financial resources are limited, but Younsi remains optimistic and confident in his ability to convince voters and counter expectations. "Our chances still exist, since we are offering a programme and a vision that can attract citizens. It is a new recipe to break free from the current state of affairs that is sore on all levels of security, politics and economy."

The candidate suggests removing the shackles from political activities, by allowing private TV stations, permitting the creation of new political parties and ending the state of emergency that has been in place since 1992.

On the economic front, he proposes greater investment to end dependency on fossil fuels, which constitute 98% of the national income. In addition, youth should be encouraged and equipped to establish small enterprises.

Younsi's supporters believe he represents the best successor to President Bouteflika, since his is the most open platform on the issues of politics, the economy and security.

Mohamed Sellami, 40, believes his candidate will better defend the interests of university graduates. "Younsi is the only candidate who holds a PhD," he said. "He will thus be able to appreciate the value of holders of higher degrees, and will assist them in accessing the labour market."

Sellami also supports the proposed amnesty for armed activists, since it would "encourage them to cease terrorist attacks, and end a painful chapter in national history".

Tarek, a media professional, opposes the amnesty proposal, however. He said he rejects the idea of pardoning terrorists, who in his estimation deserve to be killed or jailed for the damage they cause to the country.