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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 5, 2019 20:25:09 GMT
However, there is one standby candidate waiting in the wings -- Ali Benflis. He was already a candidate in 2004 (6.42%) and 2014 (12.18%). Not exactly the most charismatic candidate and already 74 years old, but at least a real not-too-corrupt politician. But he is not the future of Algeria, and he is also quite often in hospital (just like Bouteflika).
I very much understand that in such countries, new people are not very enthusiastic about stepping forward. But an article I read today implied that a new generation of political figures is finally beginning to coalesce.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 22, 2021 9:27:11 GMT
Today is the second anniversary of the Hirak ("movement") demonstrations in Algeria. They continued every week for a year and then had to stop because of the covid lockdown. However, there have been quite a few changes in recent days -- parliament was dissolved on February 21st and a significant number of political prisoners, including journalists, were released after about eleven months. (Arresting them was super easy due to lockdown!) A few government ministers were dismissed but none of the tops ones. Departing ministers include Energy, Industry, Water, Tourism, Environment and Public Works.
Algerians are too lucid to get their hopes up too much because just about every election has been a farce. They work sort of like the Russian or Iranian system -- there is an official candidate supported by the government and a few minor candidates as window dressing. Any time a strong opponent appears, the person is disqualified for technical reasons. In any case, no date has been set yet for the parliamentary elections. Surprises are definitely possible because half of the population of the country is under the age of 19, and women are a rising power with which to reckon. 60% of the lawyers are women as well as 70% of the judges. 60% of university students are women (up from 40% in 1991). Algeria also has the highest percentage of female engineers in the world -- 48.5%.
Before we get too excited, it should be noted that 67.9% of Algerian women accept the idea that their husband can beat them. (I find this statistic rather ridiculous without additional information, for example the reason for being beaten. There is a world of difference between burning dinner and drowning the children in the bathtub.)
In France we pay quite a bit of attention to Algeria, but what is going on probably should not be ignored by other countries.
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Post by bjd on Feb 22, 2021 15:56:23 GMT
Didn't the president of Algeria return to Germany for medical treatment? Maybe they thought it's a good time to have elections since he's not around.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 22, 2021 16:40:43 GMT
No, he returned to Algeria after 3 months of medical treatment. His return home is probably what has initiated this new political session.
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Post by bjd on Feb 22, 2021 19:38:31 GMT
I just looked and in Jeune Afrique (January 10):" Le président algérien, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, est retourné dimanche en Allemagne pour se faire soigner de complications à un pied à la suite de sa récente contamination par le Covid-19.
Ce retour en Allemagne survient moins de deux semaines après un premier séjour qui l’avait tenu éloigné de l’Algérie pendant deux longs mois. Aucune précision n’a été divulguée sur la durée du nouveau séjour médical du président algérien en Allemagne."
Seems to me I saw it on the news a while back.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 22, 2021 19:44:46 GMT
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