Expected governmental reshuffle in Algeria

An Algerian parliamentary source disclosed on Wednesday that a nearby government's reshuffle will be made in Algeria during which the current prime minister Ahmad O Yahya will be removed, and the minister of state Abdul Aziz Balkhadem will succeed him.

The source explained that the issue of quitting O Yahya, who presides over the democratic national coalition, is "a settled matter." The source expected the occurrence of the government reshuffle directly after the month of Ramadan or after the partial local elections in Kbyle area (composed of Berber majority) from where O Yahya descends.

The source attributed the government reshuffle to the pressure from the national liberation front party which is headed by Balkhadem, that has the greatest majority in the parliament, in demanding its right to run the government, because it is the strongest political force in the country.

The source said that the liberation front refuses for O Yahya to remain as president of the government until the date of the legislative and local elections in 2007, and this is because of what had happened in the legislative and local elections in 1997, which was organized by O Yahya when he was then a prime minister and his party won this election, only three months after its foundation. This however, led to great demonstrations, led by major parties, accusing O Hahya of falsifying the results of the elections.

Worthy mentioning that Algeria is led by a governmental coalition composed of three main parties: the national liberation front ( 200 seats in the parliament), (the democratic national coalition ( 48 seats) and the Islamic Peace Society Movement ( 38 seats).