The need for a political consensus, women’s role in the mobilization of the electorate and expectations from the next People’s National Assembly (Lower House of Parliament) are among the issues broached by political leaders in the last 24H as part of the election campaign for the legislative election on 4 May.
President of El-Islah movement Filali Gouini said Wednesday in a meeting in Medea (92 km west of Algiers) that Algeria needed more than before “a large consensus on a political minima likely to ensure the stability of the country and its institutions.”
Leader of El-Islah affirmed that abstention and boycott “have never had an impact on events and their influence on major political orientations of the country is almost insignificant,” adding that “boycott supporters perfectly know that their steps will not brings solutions to the country’s current situation.”
Gouini pleaded for a large consensus between political players on the same goal, namely “the preservation of Algeria from the dangers that lie ahead and strengthen the internal front.”
Speaking Tuesday afternoon in a women gathering in Algiers, Secretary General of the National Liberation Front (FLN) Djamel Ould Abbes called on Algerian women to massively participate in the election and make it successful.
Besides, Ould Abbdes stressed that FLN women militants played a key role since the beginning of the election campaign through visiting districts to raise citizens’ awareness of the importance of fulfilling their civic duty.
For his part, Secretary of the National Democratic Rally (RND) Ahmed Ouyahia highlighted in Mascara (358 km west of Algiers) the importance his party’s electoral program attaches to state’s social commitments towards citizens.
Ouyahia reaffirmed that the RND supports president Bouteflika’s program and policy, which consisted in the repayment of Algeria’s foreign debts and the establishment of financial reserves “to meet social commitments towards citizens and pursue the policy of support to investment in the sectors of industry and agriculture to boost economic growth.”
For a parliament that “genuinely” monitors government’s action
Holding a meeting in Skikda (470 km east of Algiers), president of the Algerian National Front (FNA) Moussa Touati affirmed that MPs had to “serve the people” and ensure “respect for the laws preserving citizens’ honour and dignity.”
“It is time to elect a parliament that ensures justice and allows the people to exercise its sovereignty in accordance with the principles provided by the 1st November Statement,” said the speaker, who urged “each citizen eager for his country’s interests to vote.”
In Setif (270 km east of Algiers), the Secretary General of the National Republic Alliance (ABR) Belkacem Sahli said the next Lower House had to be “able to implement the assets of provided by the revised Constitution.”
Holding a meeting in M’sila (243 km southeast of Algiers), president of the Freedom and Justice Party (PLJ) Mohamed Said called on electors to elect competent candidates that will make the next Parliament “a real institution that monitors government’s action and defends the choices of the sovereign people.”
The first Secretary General of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) Abdelmalek Bouchafa affirmed that his party’s political action consisted in “sowing hope and trust, and establishing a peaceful democratic alternative.”
Bouchafa called to “rebuild a national consensus to which all Algerian adhere. This is a strategic political project for the FFS, which seeks to establish a democratic alternative,” he stated.
Representative of Ennahda-Adhala-Bina Alliance Abdellah Djaballah highlighted in Oued Rhiou (210 km of west of Algiers) the need to give citizens full powers and entrench popular sovereignty to strengthen state’s institutions.
Ennahda-Adhala-Bina Alliance “is a strategic and Unitarian project aiming to establish a republican and social state with a sovereignty based on the principle of Islam.”