Mohamed Said runs on platform of change in Algeria

2009-04-03

Independent presidential candidate Mohamed Said is basing his campaign on promises of economic, political, and social change.

By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 03/04/09

[Said Jameh] Presidential candidate Mohamed Said vows to usher in a new Algeria.

Independent candidate Mohand Oussaid Bélaid, better known as Mohammed Said, is running for the Algerian presidency in next week's elections under the slogan, "Change Today, Not Tomorrow".

Said, who is participating in the presidential election for the first time, is promoting a discourse of economic, political, and social change he believes is being well received by the citizens.

The candidate, who hails from Kabylia, presented an integrated project that includes comprehensive reforms. He proposed the establishing of a parliamentary system and abandoning the current semi-presidential system now in effect in Algeria. He promised to change the Constitution to only allow the president to run for a second term.

Although the Algerian Constitution originally limited the presidential mandate to two terms, incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika succeeded in having an amendment passed in November that allowed him to seek a third term.

Said, a former diplomat, criticised Bouteflika for the crackdown on freedoms under his presidency. He deplored banning the establishment of political parties, and private TV and radio stations.

In case he won the election, Said stated he would take the necessary measures to allow citizens more political freedom. He also vowed to lift the state of emergency that has been in force since 1992.

A candidate with Islamist inclinations, Said did not focus too much in his campaign on the issue of reconciliation, and on dealing with the security issue in the country. He only confirmed that he was convinced with the need to go far in reconciling Algerians among themselves.

He accused the current regime of creating a gap between the public authorities and the citizens, and criticized the deterioration of the citizens' quality of life, and the spread of corruption.

The candidate, who established a political party called "Party of Freedom and Justice" just two month ago, vowed to promote transparency in administration, improve the economy, and provide decent affordable housing.

Said rejected the boycotting of the elections, saying boycotters are "seeking to sow despair in the souls of citizens". He encouraged all citizens to head to the polls on April 9th.

Mohamed Said is little known by the public. He has received no endorsements from civil society.

"I had never heard of Mohamed Said before the Constitutional Council announced his candidacy," said Habiba Mhamedi, an employee at a photographer's studio. "I did not know anything about his political stances or inclinations, and therefore, I will not vote for him."

Le Soir d'Algerie journalist Tarek Hafid doubts Mohamed Said will be able to introduce change. "He is the son of the current regime", he told Magharebia, "as he has previously assumed positions of responsibility, such as ambassador".

The fact that Mohamed Said's platform includes all political currents - whether Islamist, democratic, national, or leftist – shows that it simply cannot be implemented, Hafid added. "This would mean living in conflicts and disputes. In addition, currents with opposing ideas cannot co-exist in the framework of one program."