Butaflika quits seven ministers, Benflis is a presidential candidate
Algeria, Politics, 9/6/2003

A statement issued by the Algerian presidency said that President Abdul Aziz Butaflika has replace seven ministers including six who are members of the National Liberation Front. This partial government reshuffle comes on the ground of a conflict between the front and the opponents of its secretary general and former prime minister Ali Benflis.

The difference which has erupted since weeks is concentrated on having control of the Front on the ground of Benflis' nomination to the Presidential elections due to be held later this year. The liberation front kept apart from Butaflika in March during its 8th conference in which Benflis' line was perpetuated and resulted in differences with Butaflika.

This difference had come to the open in May 2002 when President Butaflika removed Benflis who was then the prime minister. Among the seven ministers who were removed are five among the most enthusiast for Benflis.

In a statement, the Front announced Benflis as a candidate for the Presidential elections. The statement issued after three days of debate inside the central committee of the front in Algiers, called for a special conference to approve the nomination and authorized Benflis to specify a date to convene this expected conference within days.

Thereby, Benflis will be the most serious candidate as a rival for Butaflika who was elected in April 1999 at the support of the front itself. It is not announced yet whether Butaflika will be a candidate for a second term of office or not.

The national liberation front which has been the ruling party in Algeria until 1988 enjoys the vast majority of the members in the national assembly ( parliament) following the success attained at the legislative elections in May 2002. The front also won the local elections in October 2002 and fronted the political scene after it was veiled for 15 years.

Previous Stories:
  Sahrawi tribe celebrates return of notable from Polisario camps   (9/2/2003)
  Madanai, Balhah released   (7/3/2003)
  Algeria Oyahya forms his government   (5/10/2003)
  Butaflika fires Benflis, brings back Oyahya, due to Algerian presidential elections   (5/6/2003)

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