Opinion poll on Algerian president

An old opinion poll in Algeria disclosed that the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika is a candidate for winning the elections of 2004 despite the opposition campaign against him.

Imar center for researches and consultations, which has Paris as headquarters, took this opinion poll on September 21 through 29 in which 1390 Algerians took place from various parts of the country.

The opinion poll revealed that 34% will vote for Butaflika if the elections were held today (date of the poll). A rate less than 19% said that they prefer Ali Benflis the former chairman of the Cabinet, chairman of the highly influential National Liberation Front party.

The candidate needs more than 50% of the votes to win the presidency and to avoid a second round of negotiations. A rate of 9% will vote for Abdullah Jaab Allah, leader of al-Islah party, the party which has the third largest representation at the parliament.