Presidential elections in Algeria: Violence, voting, boycotts, "Fitna," the deluge and media superstar (VIDEOS)
HuffPost Maghreb | By Tahir MalikPublished:04/14/2014 1:39 p.m. EST
The campaign for the presidential election is over, Sunday, April 13,
amid tensions and exchanges of accusations between the camp Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the Ali Benflis .
Contrary to what is suggested by the staff of the campaign, Bouteflika has not made an appearance at the last meeting, held at the Dome of July 5.
Ministers campaigning for President had unwisely hinted that he might be present. As Facebook unveils post Youssef Zerarka Algerian journalist based abroad who humorously titled "Bouteflika was the dome, Oscar Niemeyer has seen."
Niemeyer, who died at the age of 104 years, is the architect of the dome (sports hall) where the rally was. A suggestion that the President seeking a fourth term is no longer visible to those in the afterlife.
Photo of the dome
Bouteflika, affected by the effects of a stroke and whose ability to ensure his load is challenged by opponents, was limited to television appearances. By meeting the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, he complained of "terrorism" of his opponent. It recurred yesterday, receiving Lakhdar Brahimi, the Algerian yet the UN special envoy to Syria.
Dissemination of sequences where Bouteflika campaigned discussing foreign representatives continues to generate controversy:
"The most absurd though is that the communication services of the Presidency have held to disseminate to the public channel. As if the President to speak to the Algerians had to go through a stranger! We are no longer in communication error . We are in a serious loss of meaning "
we read in the editorial Quotidien d'Oran.
El Watan did not appreciate the "ambiguous visit" Lakhdar Brahimi.
"Even if Lakhdar Brahimi first came to Algiers for family reasons, his meeting with the President is not publicized to any point in the campaign"
The Journal notes.
So Abdelmalek Sellal, surrounded by ministers and party leaders who support who chaired the last meeting. Announcing that "hogra is finished!"
With the risk of receiving the mockery to the fact we are talking about a candidate who is in power for fifteen years ... without end hogra.
At the end of this meeting,
Maghreb Emergent recorded the first victim of this campaign,
the young Akram Haddouche killed in the town of Zeralda by a supporter of Bouteflika.
Ali Benflis held its last meeting in Rouiba, in the eastern suburbs of Algiers. He responded to the accusations of violence and terrorism Bouteflika and his supporters.He sees a sign of panic.
He again warned that he will not remain silent in case of fraud.
"Those who used to take power and who think and believe that they can defraud know that the stability of the country passes through a credible election. Election fraud is a red line. I will not be silent when vote rigging and whoever defraud fully bear the consequences. "
And Bouteflika supporters who say "Accept us or is it the deluge!" he replied: "There will be neither you nor the deluge!"
Demos, a fitna
The hours after the vote will they eventful? That is the question.
Bouteflika camp does not stop to warn against the "street" and fitna.
Salafists came to the rescue by issuing a fatwa of
Sheikh Farkous . Whereas democracy is shirk (polytheist), the text concludes that practices such as demonstrations, sit-ins or strikes, traditions are "infidels."
Review radically rejected by Ali Belhadj, the former number of Hi Islamic Front, which stated that the use of peaceful demonstrations in the streets is not a "fitna".
(See video below)
He accuses those who issue fatwas against those rights recognized by the Sharia, national and international laws to be true instigators of Fitna. Ali Belhadj nevertheless recommends taking precautions to avoid that introduces the "baltaguiyas" to create violence.
A "star" is born
During this campaign, audiovisual media, public and private, were largely in favor of Bouteflika. But the campaign was heavily heckled by the emergence of widely hostile networks fourth term. Calls to boycott elections are numerous. And borrow original voice as misuse of mega-tube Pharell Williams, Happy, who becomes "Matrohch tvoti" (not going to vote)
Networks and for very bad reasons, a "star" of the press was born. This is Habiba Mahmoudi, journalist Ennahar TV, media totally committed to Bouteflika4, and author of an anthology "Mr. Benflis if you win elections, you accept defeat?".
Its very aggressive way of asking questions to the candidates earned him assassins comments. She relapsed with Ali Fawzi Rebaine. She fell on bone.
We probably forget the other candidates, but Habiba Mahmoudi is already a "superstar", a model of what journalism should not be.
At the end of this meeting,
Maghreb Emergent recorded the first victim of this campaign,
the young Akram Haddouche killed in the town of Zeralda by a supporter of Bouteflika.
Ali Benflis held its last meeting in Rouiba, in the eastern suburbs of Algiers. He responded to the accusations of violence and terrorism Bouteflika and his supporters.He sees a sign of panic.
He again warned that he will not remain silent in case of fraud.
"Those who used to take power and who think and believe that they can defraud know that the stability of the country passes through a credible election. Election fraud is a red line. I will not be silent when vote rigging and whoever defraud fully bear the consequences. "
And Bouteflika supporters who say "Accept us or is it the deluge!" he replied: "There will be neither you nor the deluge!"
Demos, a fitna
The hours after the vote will they eventful? That is the question.
Bouteflika camp does not stop to warn against the "street" and fitna.
Salafists came to the rescue by issuing a fatwa of
Sheikh Farkous . Whereas democracy is shirk (polytheist), the text concludes that practices such as demonstrations, sit-ins or strikes, traditions are "infidels."
Review radically rejected by Ali Belhadj, the former number of Hi Islamic Front, which stated that the use of peaceful demonstrations in the streets is not a "fitna".
(See video below)
He accuses those who issue fatwas against those rights recognized by the Sharia, national and international laws to be true instigators of Fitna. Ali Belhadj nevertheless recommends taking precautions to avoid that introduces the "baltaguiyas" to create violence.
A "star" is born
During this campaign, audiovisual media, public and private, were largely in favor of Bouteflika. But the campaign was heavily heckled by the emergence of widely hostile networks fourth term. Calls to boycott elections are numerous. And borrow original voice as misuse of mega-tube Pharell Williams, Happy, who becomes "Matrohch tvoti" (not going to vote)
Networks and for very bad reasons, a "star" of the press was born. This is Habiba Mahmoudi, journalist Ennahar TV, media totally committed to Bouteflika4, and author of an anthology "Mr. Benflis if you win elections, you accept defeat?".
Its very aggressive way of asking questions to the candidates earned him assassins comments. She relapsed with Ali Fawzi Rebaine. She fell on bone.
We probably forget the other candidates, but Habiba Mahmoudi is already a "superstar", a model of what journalism should not be.
ALGERIA. Presidential: in front of a ghost Bouteflika ,Benflis wants to believe
By Sarah Diffalah
See all articles
Posted on
14-04-2014 at 10:52Updated at 24:28
They had left the heavy artillery. For 22 days, the six candidates for election
presidential Algerian April 17 did not skimp on resources in a campaign that ended Sunday, April 13 and which is mounted in tension in the home straight. Algerians scroll saw in their wilaya (department) applicants for the highest office determined, including former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, despite the predominant election a foregone conclusion that would incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika feeling, to re-enlist a fourth term.
In the center of Algiers, the visual advantage is clear for the latter whose posters and placards XXL multiplied by tens adorn the facades of buildings. Presence also noticed the absence of the principal applicant who, forced by illness,
never appeared in public despite a false suspense fueled by his campaign team. Net benefit to Abdelaziz Bouteflika also browse the huge territory to meet Algerians. It is not less than seven persons Abdelmalek Sellal Ouyahia Abdelaziz Belkhadem Amara Benyounès Abdelkader Bensalah Amar Saadani, and Mohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa, who did the job across the country. Dozens of buses have been chartered to lead supporters of continuity, so Bouteflika.
Bouteflika deified
For the last meeting in Algiers in the great hall of the dome Boudiaf near the stage of July 5, above which a giant poster of Abdelaziz Bouteflika attached to an inflatable balloon, Abdelmalek Sellal, former Prime Minister plane now campaign manager, faced for 30 minutes to an hour before heated by Algerian tubes resumed in public choir. The disappointment of not seeing their "rais" was short-lived. Some, indeed, were just there to "let off steam". Accompanied into the room by traditional musicians, ululating, vuvuzelas, singing, rough placards, Abdelmalek Sellal chanted the name of a man deified and fantasized.
The gratin of public enterprises and trade unions on the other hand are present. Sonatrach, Neftal and UGTA highlighted their frameworks and most diverse associations. "Abdelaziz Bouteflika deserves this because for 15 years he worked for youth and encouraged the practice of female sport. Today, he can not be there it does not matter, his brain works Again! " Leila ensures Belhadi 32 years and member of the "athletes Sonatrach." Same story at Fatima Zohra, 45 who traveled from Tiaret more than 300 kilometers from Algiers. "He worked hard to bring peace, we do not want our country to become like Libya, Syria or Egypt."
Belmokhtar Reda, 34, sat back on the platform. "I came to get an idea, but its program is not new, it is the continuity Things have argued with him.. We have more tranquility, staff housing were awarded as well as lots of ground. We could receive up to 700,000 dinars
[about 7,000 euros, Ed] to add another floor to our house or 300,000 dinars
[about 3,000 euros] to renovate, "he insists. "And then he especially set up the device Anseg credit, assistance to help us create our company." Like most supporters, the absence of the candidate does not mind, saying it is not a person but a government team.
It sits, it is surrounded. The other candidates, Abdelaziz Belaid, Moussa Touati, Ali Fawzi Rebaine and Louisa Hanoune are fake candidates pawns. As for Ali Benflis, it is too surrounded by Islamists. We do not want to go back. The solution is not Boutef or Benflis, this is common sense. "
Outside, the party continues, the party cadres self-congratulating. Séfouane Ahmed, Algiers elected member of the National Transitional Council assumes no scrolls and the mixed record of the 15 years of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. "We could have done better, it's true. But the transition will be smooth."
Ali Benflis, change
In the opposing camp, the former Prime Minister Ali Benflis by its position credible challenger, unsheathed his best weapons of communication: an airplane and cars for journalists, a team of seasoned campaign, led by the energetic Lotfi Boumghar, and very close, like Kamal Bouchama, former Minister of Youth and Sports, as from Ali Benflis, the FLN (National Liberation Front) party in power. Another strong point that his rival could have: proximity.
"The best of the debates is that I do with the people. I walked the 48 provinces of Algeria. I started the extreme south, and I had people with a fruitful discussion on the fate of these untapped regions, which are not connected to other cities by modern means of communication but have enormous wealth, "says Ali Benflis. "If ever pass my project, I will meet their expectations and give them what they want: a democratic state, against the powers, young people who may speak and youth to whom I give the power of decision local and national level. "
Saturday was the penultimate round of heats before the elections with three provinces of the west, Relizane, Mostaganem and Oran, to visit. Three bastions "Bouteflika." But yesterday scalded by unexpected success Khenchela in the east, Ali Benflis there ventured light heart, serene mind.Candidate in 2004, he has now taken the pitch. A Relizane, the tone is set, farm craze is at the rendezvous. For him, a single credo: change. An effective formula in a country plagued by corruption and unemployment.
"The current system comes to an end, he is tired, it is ending. This system has not understood it became a minority and he faces a world of young people," said Ali Benflis.
Youth is the solution of the Algerian problem, and if we do not take into account their aspirations, this youth could become the problem. "
The passage of unmarked cars in the meeting rooms, youth and meets the challenge, under applause.
Alchemy seems to take. In Oran, Sarah came with her brother Mohktar. At 19, she will vote for the first time. "He is a man of conviction. He left the FLN because it no longer corresponded to its principles. Abdelaziz Bouteflika has not brought democracy. Can not manifest, the TV channels are controlled by the government. It Oran said that, people live well, but in the El Hamri neighborhood they live in poverty and there is no security. Bouteflika If happens, nothing will change. "
His brother, architect of 27 years will vote for the first time too. "Benflis, for me it is a default choice, but I think it can reverse the situation. If it loses with 30 or 35%, this will be a gap that opens. Opposition is today ' Today atomized could ally with him and become an attractive force after April 17. "
A second round?
No doubt, Ali Benflis has garnered opportunity to establish itself as a dangerous opponent Abdelaziz Bouteflika. A few days before the election, some herald as a potential detonator major riots, he also managed to capitalize thanks to missteps of his rival,
as this bad joke on Chaouis populations Aures, Abdelmalek Sellal.
For many observers end connoisseurs of
Algeria , panic blew into the camp Bouteflika. The same day,
Abdelaziz Bouteflika , who hosted the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs,
accused his opponent of "terrorism" and cause trouble that marred tour of its representatives. Remarks deemed offensive, coming close a chaotic campaign and gave dreams of second round Ali Benflis. Scenario - hard to imagine - but that would be unprecedented in Algerian history.
Sarah Diffalah to
Algiers , Le Nouvel Observateur