Algerian political groups look for alternatives
2009-04-17
Several Algerian political groups boycotted the recent presidential election, but in the wake of Bouteflika's win, they must now hunt for a new plan.
By Said Jameh from Magharebia in Algiers – 17/04/09
 [Getty Images] Algerian politician Hocine Ait Ahmed supports creating a new bloc. |
The sweeping success achieved by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the April 9th elections prompted several political parties and individuals to rethink their strategies and find new ways to weigh in on the political arena.
Especially after boycotting the elections, some political groups now worry that their voices will be marginalised. Individually, they believe, they cannot count enough in front of the ruling power.
Hocine Ait Ahmed, head of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), called on political groups and individual politicians to "join hands within the framework of a bloc".
The current political scene in Algeria is exclusively occupied by the national, Islamic, and Trotskian powers, Ahmed said.
"It is about time to rally together the democratic forces and form a bloc that can offer an alternative to political practices," he said.
Said Saadi, leader of the Rally for Culture and Democracy movement (RCD), welcomed the idea, stressing the need to immediately lay down the foundation for that rally, crystallise joint ideas and draw a roadmap through which they can promote their plan.
Ahmed Ben Bitour, who held the Prime Minister's post for less than a year in Bouteflika's first government in 1999, said he was ready to join the new bloc if and when founded. He even said that "in fact, it should be extended to encompass all the opposition regardless of their orientations."
Observers are already casting doubts over the ability to form this new comprehensive bloc, given the reality on the ground. Many said that the differences among these political groups, especially in the platforms and ideologies, could hinder the initiative.
When Ahmed initiated his call, he said he realised that there will be some obstacles in the way to such grouping, but "we understand the need to overcome those obstacles."
In an interview with Al Watan newspaper on April 14th, Ben Bitour said that the success of this initiative "depends on how far parties are prepared to give up individual political action and fully dedicate themselves to that bloc".
The latest elections, in which Bouteflika won more than 90% of the votes, created a dilemma for the political parties in Algeria, said political analyst Slimane Hammiche. "The elections resulted in a president for the republic," he said. But the elections did not form a political ground, he added. As a result, Bouteflika is the only one entitled to speak on behalf of the Algerian people.
"Forming this bloc is a matter of life or death," for the other political groups, Hammiche said, "a question of survival for them".
They have no choice but to "come together, overcome their differences and sit together on one table to find some common grounds", he added.
Email to a friend
Print version
Mohand Salah Tahi Posted 2009-04-18
Despite boasting about democracy, those who have been ruling Algeria since the country's independence in 1962 have never believed in democracy, since democracy would not serve their narrow interests. For them it is constant violence and stability which would allow them to continue plundering Algeria's wealth. They have been wrapping themselves in the mantle of Arab-Islamic ideology as legitimacy tools to perpetuate their domination, while struggling to convince the West that the regime is secular and democratic. While claiming to be secular, they have been doing everything they could to strengthen the Islamists in order to weaken the democratic and secular forces. The February 1989 constitution banned religion-based political parties, but the first party to be legalized by the decision makers a month later was the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), which won the 1990 local and 1991 parliamentary elections, which served as a pretext for the decision makers to go back to square one and smother all political activites by cancelling the elections and decalring a state of emergency which is still in force 17 years on. The country's intelligence services have infiltrated credible democratic forces and worked to undermine them from within by constantly creating dissident factions. In my opinion, any attempt to bring democratic forces together will, in the end, be subjected to the same fate. More than 45 years of Arab-Islamic ideology has wiped out the unborn democratic culture and is now exposing Algeria to a time bomb and an earthquake which, once again, will only deepen the misery of ordinary Algerians. There is only one genuine democracy: The democracy which entrenches justice and human rights and which keeps religion inside the walls of mosques and churches.
B. Fateh Posted 2009-04-18
Hello- Like every democrat in the opposition, I can but support this initiative. It brings together the powers of the left, the democrats and the republicans. We absolutely need to face down this system, which has ruined democracy in Algeria. We no longer want rigged elections or presidents elected fraudulently. Long live the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria!
courant d'air Posted 2009-04-20
Hello to all the team at Magharebia news magazine- Just to let you know, our dear Algeria has never had such a rigged election. This is a shame for our father, Bouteflika. You will not die in peace, you destroyer of democracy.
koka Posted 2009-04-20
We are in the worst situation we have been in since independence. There are not 36 thousand paths to take; we have to take charge, and that is not easy. A monstrous work awaits us, and it is still unknown if the situation is reversible. If not, then this will turn Algeria into a Somalia, and, believe me, the price we pay will be expensive. Be responsible for once in your history, which is marked by missing opportunities. It is a shame to leave such a heavy, irreparable burden for our children.
الدكتور علي زغدود رئيس حزب التجمع الجزائري Posted 2009-07-13
There is no alliance between parties in Algeria except the alliance between 3 parties. They are the three parties in power in Algeria in the name of the programme of the president of the republic. As to other parties which are over 23 parties, some of them support the president of the republic. They are outside the political game. There is no alliance between them. This has made the political life in Algeria somnolent and drowsy. Therefore, political debates in Algeria have dropped contrarily to what it was before at the beginning of party pluralism. Therefore, we ask parties to make alliances as it is the case in some Maghreb countries.
We welcome your comments on Magharebia's articles.
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across the Maghreb. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While Magharebia.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. Magharebia.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
Magharebia's Comments Policy