The Independent Electoral Authority of Algeria announced two days ago that it accepted the files of five candidates for the presidential race slated for December 12 from 23 applicants, after applying the legal conditions for their candidacy.


The candidates are former prime ministers Abdelmajid Taboun and Ali Benflis, Secretary General of the National Democratic Rally, former Minister of Culture Ezzedine Mihoubi, President of the Future Front Abdelaziz Belaid, and President of the National Building Movement Abdelkader Benkreina.

While protesters are calling for a postponement of the elections, arguing that conditions are not ripe for them to be held before corruption is eliminated and all former regime symbols are expelled from power, these candidates will have to convince voters of their platforms and perceptions of the next stage. The following is a definition of each candidate:

Teboun holds ministerial posts in different governments (Algerian press)

Abdul Majeed Taboon
A politician, born on November 17, 1945 in Mashriya, in the southwestern state of Naama. He graduated from the National School of Management in 1965, majoring in Economics and Finance.

He held ministerial positions with various governments, including the heads of the Ministries of Housing, Urbanization, Communication and Trade. He was described as a man close to Bouteflika, whom he chose in May 2017 to be head of government, succeeding Abdelmalek Sellal.

After assuming the premiership, Tibun announced his approach to separating money from politics, he said, raising problems with businessmen close to the presidency.

Days before his dismissal, questions were raised about the future of Taboun in the face of a silent conflict with the president's brother, Said Bouteflika, and his special adviser described as the most influential figure in the country.

Less than three months after his appointment on August 15, 2017, President Bouteflika ended the duties of Tiboun (head of government) and appointed his director, Ahmed Ouyahia, to succeed him.

Benflis previously nominated in front of Bouteflika (Associated Press)

Ali bin Fleis
A politician and a jurist, born on September 8, 1944 in the eastern Algerian city of Batna to a militant family, French colonialism killed his father and brother at the age of 13.

He graduated from the Faculty of Law and Economic Sciences in 1968, and then held several positions in the judiciary and law firm.

In 1988, he was appointed Minister of Justice, and he retained this position during three consecutive governments headed by (Kasidi Merbah, Mouloud Hamrouche, Sidi Ahmed Ghazali).

He began his political career as a member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the National Liberation Front Party in 1989, until he became its Secretary General in 2001.

In 1999, Bouteflika commissioned him to run his presidential campaign, and after his appointment as Acting Secretary General of the Presidency, then Director of the Office of the President and then Prime Minister.

Bouteflika sacked him in May 2003 with six ministers loyal to him.

Since the dispute that led to his dismissal, Felice has presented himself as the first opponent of Bouteflika.He ran for president in 2004.He missed the scene until he returned to run in 2014.He came second in both times, and accused the authorities of rigging the elections.

In 2015, he founded the Pioneers of Freedoms (National Democratic Party), which seeks to create a democratic state that establishes the foundations of a free society, in which the exercise of responsibility is subject to standards of integrity, commitment and all forms of control, accountability and accountability.

Mihoubi started his career in the media field (Al Jazeera)

Ezzedine Mihoubi
A former journalist, poet, and founding member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is the second party of the National Liberation Front (FLN) in power for years.

Born in 1959 in the Wilayat of M'sila, he belongs to a long-standing political family. His grandfather, Mohammed Darraji, was an aide to Sheikh Abdelhamid Ben Badis at the Association of Muslim Scholars.

He graduated from the National School of Management in 1984, and in 2006 obtained a diploma in specialized postgraduate studies strategy branch of the University of Algiers.

He began his career in the media field, working in print journalism and television production, then joined the ranks of the National Democratic Rally (RND) and succeeded in winning a seat in parliament from 1979 to 2002.

He began to hold important government positions such as Director General of the National Broadcasting Corporation in 2006-2008 and became Secretary of State to liaise with the Government until 2010. He moved to be Director General of the National Library until 2013, and then Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Arabic Language until 2015.

He held the highest post in his history as minister of culture, where he remained until March 2019 with the departure of the Bouteflika regime following mass protests that toppled his regime.

Contrary to Mihoubi's political career, he has a busy literary career where he has published many poetry books and also published novels, as well as many plays.

Belaid Founder of the Future Party (European)

عبد العزيز بلعيد Free Membership
Politician and youngest presidential candidate in the 2014 elections, holds a doctor of medicine, a bachelor's degree in law and a certificate of professional competence by law.

He was born on June 16, 1963 in the municipality of Marouane, Batna Province. As a child, he joined the ranks of Islamic scouts in the Batna region, and later became a national and international cadre in its ranks.

In 1986, he joined the FLN and later became the youngest member of the Central Committee.

He was elected to the National People's Assembly for two consecutive terms between 1997 and 2007. After disagreeing with the FLN's orientation, he left the party to establish in February 2012 the Future Front.

Ben Kreina is one of the founders of the Movement of Society for Peace (Al Jazeera)

Abdul Qadir bin presumption
Political and trade unionist, held several positions in the government, including: Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts and Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

Born in the southern city of Ouargla in 1962, besides academic achievement he studied forensic science at the hands of many scholars and sheikhs.

He joined the university majoring in electronics and graduated with a postgraduate diploma.

The 57-year-old is the only Islamic figure to announce the next presidential race. He was one of the founders of the Muslim Society Movement (the Society for Peace Society, currently the largest Islamic party in the country) in 1989, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, and was elected a deputy in parliament in 1997, before leaving for the post of Minister of Tourism.

In 2013, he founded the National Building Movement along with leaders who broke away years ago from the Movement for a Society of Peace, the party to which Suleiman Shannin belongs to the Speaker of the National People's Assembly (Chamber 1).