Candidates duck eggs, tomatoes in Algerian poll

ALGERIA’S presidential campaign is in trouble. Candidates are struggling to fill rally venues, campaign managers have quit, voters have pelted campaign headquarters with tomatoes and eggs, and the country’s 9-month-old prodemocracy movement calls the whole thing a sham.

The five candidates seeking to replace President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the December 12 election have largely failed to captivate a disillusioned public. Bouteflika was pushed out in April after 20 years in power amid an exceptional, peaceful protest movement, and now demonstrators want a wholesale change of political leadership.

Instead, the election is being managed by the long-serving power structure of this oil- and gas-rich country with a strategic role in the Mediterranean

region.

Instead of new faces, two of the candidates are former prime ministers and one is a loyalist of Algeria’s influential army chief.

The Hirak protest movement held their 41st weekly demonstration on Friday, denouncing the presidential election.

The European Parliament condemned the arrests of protesters, prompting anger among some Algerians who accused the Europeans of interfering in Algerian politics – and inspired thousands of pro-government supporters to hold their own rally on Saturday in support of the electoral process.

Former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, considered a leading candidate, was heckled in Tlemcen, Guelma, Oued Souf and Annaba, while he had to cancel a meeting altogether in Maghnia on Algeria’s western edge.

His campaign director in the important region of Kabylie resigned, citing pressure from his family. Many in Kabylie oppose holding the election at all.

Candidate Abdelamdjid Tebboune, considered the candidate of army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah, had to cancel his first rally in Algiers because not enough people signed up.

His campaign manager also resigned, without explanation. And then one of his leading campaign funders was jailed on corruption charges.

Another candidate, Abdelakder Bengrina, began his campaign on the esplanade of the central post office in Algiers – the emblematic site of the protest movement.

He had to interrupt his speech to dive into his car under police cover to escape a crowd of angry demonstrators.

The portrait on the balcony of his campaign headquarters has been bombarded with eggs and tomatoes.

The president of the body overseeing the election, Moahamed Charfi, has minimised the campaign troubles, saying the candidates are “accepted by the population”.

Army chief Gaid Salah has yet to publicly acknowledge the problems either, instead praising Algerians in a recent speech for “the adherence of the people around their army, chanting, with one voice”.

If no candidate wins more than 50% in the first round, the election goes to a second round in the ensuing weeks. |