Less than four months before the presidential election, the Algerian presidency took the initiative of bringing together the parties represented in the elected assemblies. Not to discuss the organization of the election – even if questions of democracy were addressed – but to talk about broader subjects, such as foreign policy.
For the first time since his accession to power in December 2019, the head of state, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, met on Tuesday, May 21 with the various Algerian political parties. But only those sitting in national and local assemblies, which effectively excludes political groups that boycotted the 2021 legislative and local elections, such as the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) or the Union for Change and the Progress (UCP) whose president, magistrate Zoubida Assoul, was the first to announce her candidacy for the early presidential election, scheduled for September 7.
“It is an approach doomed to failure,” predicts RCD president Athmane Mazouz from the outset about the approach initiated by the president, which, according to him, “leaves the way to several readings. Is this a meeting to seal the definitive closure of the next presidential election
Such a scenario is not improbable given the authoritarian course that the recent revision of the penal code forcefully reaffirms. Or else, its credibility having been largely damaged, the government seeks to have its approach accredited by parties and organizations. In this case, the exclusion of political parties who believe that the debate should focus on the political means to end the crisis condemns the approach to standing still.”
A new format
The format of the conclave, for its part, is unprecedented, since no fewer than 27 political parties were invited on May 11 by the presidential cabinet director, Boualem Boualem. Until now, the Head of State had received representatives of political parties and personalities separately. Most at their request.
The meeting which was held in the large hall of the International Conference Center of Algiers, without the presence of the media, lasted until around eight p.m., with eight hours of uninterrupted discussion. The images, released by the presidency, show Abdelmadjid Tebboune greeting, one by one, the political leaders present – the party leaders each accompanied by two executives.
Some claim to be from the opposition, such as Louisa Hanoune, from the Workers’ Party, Soufiane Djilali, from Jil Jadid, and Youcef Aouchiche, the first secretary of the Socialist Forces Front. Other leaders of parties close to power, like Abdelkader Bengrina, president of the Islamist movement El Bina, Mustapha Yahi of the National Democratic Rally, Abdelkrim Benbarek of the National Liberation Front or Belkacem Sahli of the National Republican Alliance.
Consensus on foreign policy
According to those who spoke the day after the meeting, the discussions mainly revolved around foreign policy and resulted in consensus and support for the steps taken by the Algerian state, particularly in favor of Palestine. Louisa Hanoune and Abdelali Hassani, president of the Movement for Society and Peace, indicated that the parties present had reiterated “their support for the positions of the State in favor of just causes in the world including Palestine”.
The Workers’ Party candidate also praised the “duty accomplished by Algeria in international forums, particularly at the level of the Security Council” and warned against the plans of “the Zionist entity and (of) its henchmen, aimed at undermining security and stability in the Maghreb and Sahel regions.” She also questioned President Tebboune on the reasons for the ban on marches in support of Gaza in Algeria, believing that it was not a question of showing solidarity only with the Palestinian people but also of “defending ourselves against plots Zionists and Emiratis who target the country and the Sahel region.”
“A space for auspicious debate”
Djamel Benabdeslam, president of the New Algeria Front, confides for his part that President Tebboune and the parties agreed, during the debate, “on the need to preserve the stability of the country and to continue the development process in all areas.” sectors and at the level of all regions of the country”.
On the level of internal politics, the general secretary of the Workers’ Party called for the release of prisoners of conscience and politicians and for the repeal of article 87 bis of the penal code which allowed, according to her, “the criminalization of trade union political activity and the media” and harms media freedom.
Youcef Aouchiche, first secretary of the Front of Socialist Forces (FFS), for his part proposed to “revitalize the role of parties and review certain laws”, without mentioning which ones. Sofiane Djilali, for his part, presented his vision on the necessary participation of parties and the revitalization of the political scene, noting that “despite 35 years of multipartyism, the plural political practice of our country still needs to be accompanied by Public powers “. And added: “Such a space for debate, if it were to be reinforced as a tool for exchange and consultation, can only augur an improvement in the political climate for the benefit of the nation.”
The leader of the Jil Jadid movement continued by estimating that “any attempt to homogenize thought through constraint will create a reaction of distrust and loss of confidence among citizens,” adding that “the atrophy of political organizations and the desertification of the political class creates a double negative effect: the multiplication of opportunistic actors and demobilizing indifference of the nation.”
The Head of State’s responses to these questions and suggestions have not yet been communicated, but it is very possible that the entire meeting will be broadcast on television channels in the days to come.
