By RFIPosted on 04-12-2019Modified on 04-12-2019 at 16:10

After a referral December 2 at the request of defense lawyers, the historic trial of former ministers and bosses of the era Bouteflika opens December 4 in Algiers. But this first major trial of corruption is much criticized.

This lawsuit follows the extensive investigations launched after the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April. For the first time since independence in 1962, former heads of government are tried in Algeria.

On the dock, there are two former prime ministers and several former ministers of industry and transport. But also several big bosses well known Algerians, including Ali Haddad, the former president of the Forum of Business Leaders (FCE) and especially several bosses of the Algerian automotive industry.

Collusion in the automotive sector

Because the young Algerian car industry is at the heart of this process. In recent years, it has benefited from wide public support and significant tax benefits, but large groups were soon suspected of making masked imports into fake factories, where assembly kits arrive.

In exchange for these largesse, the big bosses would have been asked to finance the parties and campaigns of their benefactors. The trial that will open must therefore focus on the workings of this system of collusion.

Trial criticized

But according to the lawyers, the conditions of a fair and equitable trial are not met. Less than ten days of the presidential election , gathered in collective, they denounce a justice " politicized and dependent on the electoral deadlines ", against a backdrop of " settling of accounts and revenge " between clans.

The same concerns on the part of civil society, which believes that there can be no justice without a real change of regime.

► To read also: Trial of dirty money in Algeria: the defense threatens to boycott

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