Substantial differences between Algerian opposition parties emerge

Algerian sources disclosed that the unity among the opposition parties has started to collapse, confirming the existence of substantial differences among the leaders of the parties and the people's groups on the municipal and provincial levels before the beginning of the Ouma Council election on December 25. The sources added that new coalitions came into existence between the winning members.

Political experts said that it is probable that the failure of the general strike called for by the opposition parties had led to these differences among the leaders of the parties.

The National Liberation Front did not sign the statement calling for the strike, though it had participated in the protest rallies on October 30. The General Union of Syndicates rejected the call for a strike and stressed that everybody should maintain order in the republic declaring that its role is to calm everybody instead of opting for power.

Political observers confirmed the existence of change in the political plan during the last few days and described this change as significant. The change occurred as a result of several factors, the most important of which is the Algerian government's insistence on completing the constitutional organizations despite the opposition protests in addition to the call of President Zeroual to elect the Ouma Council, whose members will be elected from the winning members of the municipal councils. The number of petitions submitted by the opposition parties does not exceed 3% of the total number of seats in the municipal election.