Algeria’s National Liberation Front, headed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is leading striking efforts to reorganize its ranks before the spring 2019 presidential elections. The newly appointed NLF chief Mouad Bouchareb is leading extensive rounds of discussions with former party leaders.
It is worth noting that the NLF occupies a parliamentary majority and has the largest number of ministerial portfolios.
Bouchareb met with Abdelaziz Belkhadem , former party leader who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2008, at the party’s headquarters. They discussed partisan affairs and 2016-2018 history under the leadership of ex-leader under Djamel Ould Abbes, and the possibility of banished leaders rejoining the party’s ranks.
“Bouchareb is pushing for entering elections with a unified strong front backing the FNL candidate,” a party senior leader told Asharq Al-Awsat, speaking under the conditions of anonymity.
“The FNL will back any candidate put forth by the leadership, whether it be Bouteflika or anyone else,” they added. Belkhadem is being roped in for campaigning by the FNL given his value in preparing for a campaign to back Bouteflika in upcoming elections.
Bouteflika revoked Belkhadem’s FNL membership and terminated his service as a senior presidential advisor in 2014. The call for Blekhadem, alongside other banished party leaders, rejoining FNL ranks has left jaws dropping across the African country’s political echelons.
Blekhadem, according to an insider source, however, is heeding the party’s call for his return as one of the key staffers for Bouteflika’s political and partisan posy.
Bouchareb, three days ago, announced plans to meet with Abdurrahman Bil Ayyet, a contentious Algerian figure claiming to be the FNL’s righteous leader since2016, despite Bouteflika then assigning Ould Abbes.
Ould Abbes opposition leader Abdulkareem Abbadeh, who abandoned FNL ranks in 2013, is also expected to meet with Bouchareb in the coming days.
