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The presidential election in Algeria: a deception?

Focus on the presidential election to be held in Algeria on December 12th. The five candidates selected for the vote clash on the evening of Friday December 6 for the only televised debate of this election campaign. Beyond this debate, can we hope that the December 12 polls will allay the political crisis the country is going through?

The presidential election in Algeria is it a deception? Probably not, unfortunately. This presidential election, the protesters of Hirak, the movement, which has been challenging power for 9 months in Algeria, yet want it - since the beginning of protests against Abdelaziz Bouteflika. But precisely, the origin was the refusal of a fifth term for the old sick president at the head of a militar-mafia system. The Hirak demanded a real vote, free and transparent. And they feel they do not have it. Why ? Well mostly because of the cast of this election. The five candidates selected to compete.

►Also read: Algerian presidential elections: the Constitutional Council validates the 5 candidatures

There is Ali Benflis . He is the best-known candidate of this presidential election. He was Bouteflika's first prime minister in 1999. Even though he later became one of the opposition figures to the president ... inside the system. Or Abdelmadjid Tebboune was also prime minister, for only three months, in 2017 and several times minister. He is also very criticized for being close to Bouteflika. Finally, there is Azzedine Mihoubi , Minister of Culture under Bouteflika, until March. He is currently secretary general of RND, a party associated with the FLN, the party in power with the army, and is a favorite because the FLN supports him.

For the protesters, this casting does not guarantee a free and pluralist election. Especially since, over Fridays of events, things tend more and more. The army, under the aegis of General Ahmed Gaid Salah , has hardened the tone in recent weeks against demonstrators, activists, journalists. Nearly 150 people are reportedly in prison for criticizing the regime.

►Also read: Algeria: 41st Friday of protest to say "no" to the presidential election

The army believes it has cleaned up its ranks and corrupt politicians and businessmen linked to the power of the Bouteflika clan. Cleared of black sheep, she intends to continue to lead the country, as she has done since 1962. But this facelift or this clean hands operation, as we will, does not convince the millions of Algerians who are on a clear line . They demand the departure of what they call " the clique to power ".

Under these conditions, the legitimacy of the candidate elected president on December 12 will necessarily be very low. The election being considered a masquerade, it is a safe bet that the participation will also be very weak. And, just in office, the future president will find himself in a delicate position, wedged between the army that will leave him little or no room for maneuver - and a population that, for the most part, do not will not give much or no credit. As we can see, Algeria is sinking into a political stalemate - and into economic slump, because the events of recent months are making the country even more idle.

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