Algerians Welcoming April Elections, Hoping for Power Shift from NLF

The 2014 presidential election in Algeria is just around the corner. The people are ready for a change after 15 years of the same thing with the NLF.

The forthcoming April Algerian presidential election is viewed by many as a prospective chance for bringing about the change that this country desperately is seeking. At the forefront of key election issues is the youth of the nation, or the millennials, who are seeking to gain more influence in the government. In particular, when Algeria fought for its independence from France in the 1960s, a number of influential people rose to power who now, by views of the younger generation, control much of what happens in politics.

Those who have disagreed with them in the past, such as recently announced presidential contender, Ali Benflis, were ousted from power, something that happened when Benflis decided to run for president in 2004 and was removed from being the Prime Minister. Now, Benflis is poised to run again, hoping to attract more voters from the younger generation to give him the edge he needs in this year’s elections. Widely considered a man of and by the people, Benflis has three pledges he’s announced to the news, according to a recent report by Yahoo News and AFP.

Education of the Youth

At the core of the issues Benflis is centering for his campaign is the education of the youth. Many of the country’s people are so poor that they can’t afford to seek conventional education, much less a college education, something that has greatly hindered the progress of a stronger infrastructure.

Empowerment of the Business

Benflis also plans to put into place a “more productive economy” that can enable businesses to succeed. Perhaps by diverting some of the nation’s oil wealth to that in the form of grants and loans for small business owners, a plan could be derived to revive the business sector.

Reform of the Justice System

As the former Minister of Justice, and a former prosecutor, Benflis also sees much needed reform for the legal system. One area is found it the fact that most people charged with crimes can’t afford a lawyer, and instead must defend themselves against prosecutors, often losing due to lack of any legal education. 

Three Primary Focal Points of the Algerian Presidential Election in 2014

 The presidential election in Algeria is slated for April, 2014. Learn about three prominent focal points that will underscore this campaign.

The Algerian 2014 presidential election is not far off, set to commence in mid-April of this year. The UPI confirmed the report, quoting the Algerian Minister of Communication, Abdelkader Messahe, who said that elections are set to take place on this date. The country has survived many trials and tribulations since the end of a civil war in 2002. It has also survived the pinnacle of the “Arab Spring,” a Muslim uprising that scorched many countries in this region recently, including Egypt and Libya. As contenders prepare for the first election here since 2009, a familiar face has emerged after 10 years of avoiding the political spotlight, Ali Benflis. He says that that Algerians are focused primarily on three political issues this election.  

Proper Justice

Too often has the justice system been riddled with favoritism towards the wealthy, often the oil barons that control many happenings in this country. Benflis knows firsthand, as he used to be the Justice Minister, and was directly exposed to the inner political conflicts that prevented the administration of proper and fair justice with parity.

Focus on Education

Algerians are also discontent with the system of education at the present. Universities have poor central enrollment plans and are using outdated systems that often create more confusion and pandemonium than they do to help. A reformed education system is necessary for the high amount of projected graduating students who will be seeking employment after their educational tenure.

Reviving a Struggle Economy

While Algeria is oil rich, and is a member of OPEC, the wealth is not fairly redistributed amongst the populace. Instead, the wealthy and the powerful control much of it while others suffer. At the forefront of the Benflis strategy is a way of putting more of the money back into the country and community from the nation’s vast oil wealth to help revive a dwindling economy.

                                                                   

Algerian Government in Dire Need of Reform, Can Ali Benflis Aid the Cause?

As the Algerian government sets pace to elect their president for the fourth time, Ali Benflis could be the political savior that’s been long awaited. 

When Algeria ended its bloody civil war during the late 90s, the people were promised that things would change. A democratic and free society heralded the views with hopes of healthcare, employment opportunities and a freely elected government that would abide by the will of the people. After two terms, however, nothing changed. It actually got a lot worse. The 1999 election was plagued by accusations of fraud, as was the following election in 2004, which saw Ali Benflis, the former campaign manager and Prime Minister, defecting to create his own party to run for president.

In 2009, the country was thrown into another quagmire. The powers in charge decided two five-year terms, as mandated and outlined by the new constitution, were not nearly enough years in power. It was then ratified in the constitution to make it legal for a president to preside for more than two terms. The 2009 election in a landslide vote that was also plagued by fraud claiming that more than 95 percent of the population agreed to a third term.

Few stand in the way of these aspirations and domination over state controlled media networks. But Ali Benflis has decided that it is time to show some real opposition. In April, he has decided to run once again, with the intent on delivering on the promises that were originally made to the people.