Presidential elections in Algeria .. Who are the leading candidates? What are their programs?

Several party and independent figures have formally submitted their candidacy for the December 12 presidential election in Algeria, despite strong opposition from the ongoing popular movement. Some candidates revealed the features of their programs for the next phase, including promises of political and economic reforms.

By the expiry of the legal deadline on Saturday evening, 22 candidates submitted their files along with thousands of popular agencies of the Independent National Electoral Authority, which is now responsible for organizing the elections instead of the Ministry of Interior.

The Electoral College is scheduled to decide within a week on the files of candidates for the presidential elections, which was supposed to be organized on July 4, but was postponed due to lack of candidates.

At the time, there was a broader front opposing the presidential elections in the presence of those described as symbols of the regime of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, led by interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Badawi.

Now, in excess of the popular movement's demand for the departure of the rest of the Bouteflika regime, figures who have been counted as loyalists or opponents have run for the benefit, which the military leadership has been rushing to avoid any transitional process outside the constitution, she says.

Notable among these candidates is the Secretary General of the Vanguard of Freedoms Party, Ali Benflis, who in recent years joined the opposition and was formerly Prime Minister under Bouteflika before competing with him in the 2004 and 2014 elections.

Among them is the Secretary General of the National Democratic Rally, Izzedine Mihoubi, who was Minister of Culture. Mihoubi took over the leadership of the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) partner in the ruling coalition after former National Assembly Secretary General Ahmed Ouyahia was jailed in corruption cases.

The list of well-known candidates includes former Prime Minister Abdelmajid Taboun, who assumed the premiership for only three months in 2017, before being dismissed against the background of what has been described as a conflict of power centers around Bouteflika, and the head of the National Building Movement (Islamic), Abdelkader Ben Kreina.

Although the main candidates for the presidential elections praised the popular movement that began on 22 February and ousted Bouteflika in early April, they did not support his main demand for the departure of the symbols of the Bouteflika regime as a condition for fair elections. They also appeared opposed to the idea of ​​radical change and the establishment of the Second Republic.

Electoral programs
Before and after formally running for the next presidential election, the most prominent candidates outlined their programs and policies that they would adopt if they win this entitlement.

Ali Benflis, secretary general of the Vanguards of Liberties Party, said his candidacy was not easy given the difficult situation in the country, adding that if the elections are held in the right conditions, they can bring added value and the desired change led by legitimate institutions.

Benflis promised to enact a new constitution, guarantee the independence of the judiciary and uphold rights and freedoms.

For his part, said the head of the National Construction Movement Abdelkader Benkrinah shortly after submitting his candidacy file last Thursday that he decided to run despite the political weight and the disappointment of the Algerian people.

He refused to describe him as an Islamist candidate, saying that he is the candidate of all Algerians, stressing that he has an ambitious political program that rebuilds the state, establishes democracy, and gives Algeria its regional role.

In a previous television interview, Benkrina said he would "sweep" the elections, although there are still no real indications to support this assumption.

Former Prime Minister Abdel Meguid Taboun denied that he was the candidate of the Palestinian Authority, and strongly defended the option of organizing the elections, which he said was a demand of the popular movement at the beginning.

At a press conference after submitting his candidacy, Teboun described himself as a Democrat and expressed his rejection of the transitional option, explaining that he is committed to the provisions of the constitution.

The independent presidential candidate promised to present an ethical socio-economic program based on reconciliation among the Algerians, allowing a new financial economic breakthrough for a new republic, stressing his rejection of the idea of ​​a second republic.

NDP candidate Ezzedine Mihoubi said after presenting his file that he will present an ambitious program that is applicable to meet all the needs of the citizen, especially the urgent ones, considering that the upcoming presidential elections will be pluralistic.

Mihoubi talked about urgent decisions if he wins the presidency, and in this context to address the difficult economic situation, stressing that one of his priorities to combat corruption.

He also stressed the guarantee of the independence of the judiciary, called for dialogue between the various political and community forces to heal the rift between Algerians, and pledged on the other hand to strengthen the status of the military in the Constitution, praising its performance in the recent period.

Parties without candidates
It is noteworthy after the submission of official nominations for the Algerian presidential elections that the National Liberation Front, which dominated political life in Algeria until the departure of Bouteflika, did not submit a candidate for him, unlike his former partner in power, the National Democratic Assembly.

The leader of the Liberation Front, Abdelwahab Ben Zaeem, said late last month that the party is moving not to submit a candidate for the presidential election. He said he could support a candidate after studying his program.

In turn, Algeria's Islamist parties, with the exception of the National Building Movement, refrained from running in the presidential elections, in keeping with their refusal to organize this benefit under the current political circumstances.

He also noted that none of the figures affiliated with the popular movement or near him ran for office, while thousands of Algerians continued to demonstrate on Friday and Tuesday, demanding the departure of the heads of state and ministers, and criticizing the military leadership's position on their movement.

It is noteworthy that there is a discrepancy in Algeria between those who support the option of elections as a way out of the crisis, and those who see a hasty solution may deepen in the absence of appropriate conditions to hold them.

In the face of ongoing popular mobility, interim Algerian President Abdelkader Bensalah and army chief of staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Kayed Saleh warned those rejecting the election that the law would be strictly applied to those involved in disrupting it because the majority of the people support it.