More hints of a fifth term for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Algeria

Published on Monday, 16 April 2018 Back to articles

Front de libération nationale’s (FLN) Secretary General Djamel Ould Abbes has given another hint, although there are no official statements, that President Bouteflika may stand for a fifth term. Rather like President Donald Trump’s tweets, it is difficult to assess whether Ould Abbes’ utterings should be taken as an indication of what might come to pass, or just plain gaffs.

At a meeting of FLN officials in Algiers on 7 April, Ould Abbes urged Bouteflika, on behalf of the party’s officers and its 700,000 members, to continue his mission as head of state and be the party’s candidate for the next presidential election.

Although it is never clear whether Ould Abbes, like Trump, should be taken seriously, this latest statement should be seen in the context of:

  • Baha Eddine Tliba’s ‘start-of-the-year’ campaign for a Bouteflika’s fifth term (Algeria Politics & Security – 09.02.18);
  • Farouk Ksentini’s allegations of 18 November (Algeria Politics & Security – 24.11.17) that he had had a meeting with Bouteflika at which the latter allegedly told him he was keen to take on a fifth term; and
  • Lakhdar Brahimi’s more recent interjection (Algeria Politics & Security – 16.03.18) in the same vein.

Ould Abbes’ latest statement suggests that the FLN wants to promote Bouteflika as its official candidate for next year’s election, even if behind closed doors. As yet, there has been no response from the Presidency and Ould Abbes’ statement could be seen as just another kite-flying exercise.

Its timing may, however, have been significant. It was made on Saturday 7 April, two days before Bouteflika went on what will be seen as a campaigning trip around Algiers at which he inaugurated the 17th century Ketchaoua Mosque after its restoration, and two extensions to the Algiers Metro system.

On the facade of the building opposite the Ketchaoua Mosque, a banner reads: ‘Together for a stable and prosperous Algeria’. Clearly an election slogan?

Located at the entrance to the Kasbah, the Ketchaoua Mosque is an important historical monument and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It was badly damaged in the 2003 earthquake but its restoration was financed by the Turkish government.

The Metro extensions connect Grande Poste to the Place des Martyrs and Hai El Badr in Ain Naadja, Bouteflika, in a wheelchair, was accompanied in his ‘ride-about’ by:

  • Noureddine Bedoui – Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities and Spatial Planning;
  • Abdelwahid Temmar – Minister of Housing, Town Planning and the City;
  • Mohamed Aissa – Minister of Religious Affairs and Wakfs;
  • Abdelghani Zaalane – Minister of Public Works and Transport;
  • Azeddine Mihoubi – Minister of Culture; and
  • Abdelkader Zoukh – Wali of Algiers.

The most notable aspect of Bouteflika’s appearance was the unexplained absence of Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia.

This was the first time that Bouteflika had made such a trip for 18 months since October 2016 when he inspected the construction site of the Great Mosque of Algiers.

This time, as crowds built up in the Place des Martyrs to see Bouteflika, it was as if they were observing a curiosity, which, in many respects, they were.

Bouteflika’s visit sparked diverse comments on social media ranging from compassion to indignation: compassion for a sick man; indignation against those calling for a fifth term. ‘Whoever asks a president unable to walk and talk about running for a fifth term, is a sick person,’ said one widely circulated tweet.

On the following day, the French TV Channel, France 124, interviewed foreign minister and FLN Central Committee member, Abdelkader Messahel, who had been with Ould Abbes the previous day. Messahel praised Bouteflika’s great work and the reconstruction of Algeria which, thanks to the president, no longer had the image of the 1990s. Algeria, he said, was: now calm; reconciled with itself, its past and its history; and was now safe and in a state of full economic development.

As to the question of whether Bouteflika would be elected for a fifth term, Messahel replied that it was for the people to decide, which implied that Bouteflika had already decided to put himself forward as a candidate.

As for Saïd Bouteflika, the president’s younger brother, Messahel rejected the assumption that he was at the country’s helm. ‘Saïd is a counselor like any other, and I’m in a good position to say that as I meet the president to take his instructions and I report back to him about my missions. I can assure you that it is the president who runs the country and not his brother,’ insisted Messahel.

The opposition, said Messahel, could say what it wants, but ‘we [supporters of Bouteflika] have the right to defend the achievements of Algeria.’ Among these achievements, according to Messahel, were Algeria’s standing in the international community and its strategic choice of democracy.

While most Algerians might ask ‘what standing and what democracy’, the real message from Messahel was that the FLN and its ministers were now preparing to launch the Bouteflika candidacy.

This article was taken from Algeria Politics & Security. To discuss the contents of this article further then please contact our consultancy team here.

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