Algerian Bloggers Offer Election Predictions

Algiers — Algeria's cyberspace is buzzing with opinions and predictions about the April 2014 presidential election.

Bloggers noted that political figures are still nervous and unwilling to announce that they will run for the country's highest office.

Abed Charef observed that apart from Ahmed Benbitour, who has no party apparatus at his disposal, no serious contenders have come forward to declare candidacy.

"There are only expressions of support for a fourth term of office, which have no real conviction behind them", the journalist writes on his blog. "Amar Ghoul and Amara Benyounes say they favour a fourth term for President Bouteflika and are campaigning for this to happen," he said, adding that this situation has brought all political activity in the country to a halt.

Algeria is a country where - in theory - a presidential election will be held within six months, but there is no political excitement and no signs that a poll of any kind is drawing near, Charef wrote.

There is nothing to indicate that Algeria is getting ready for a supposedly important political moment. Charef put what he called the "paralysis" down to the fact that "no one is now able to answer a question on which everything else depends: is President Abdelaziz Bouteflika a candidate to succeed himself?"

However, he believes Algeria could still move towards a "peaceful transition".

AssahafiDZ also spoke of "uncertainty" over the upcoming presidential election. The blog said there were three possible scenarios for what President Bouteflika might do. Bouteflika could run for a fourth term of office in the April election, another candidate close to the president could be sought, or a vice-president could be installed (with an amendment to the constitution in order to avert a political vacuum were he unable to perform his duties).

The blog added that absent any clear signs of what to expect, political observers did not envisage the possibility of President Bouteflika pulling out of the presidential poll and ending of his political career.

According to psychiatrist and politician Dr Boudarene, the upcoming poll is also a pivotal moment for Algeria's youth.

It is time, Dr Boudarène wrote, to "inspire confidence in the post-independence generations, to enable them to take part in political decision-making and take control of their own destiny and that of their country".