A failure to convince Bouteflika is trying to seduce

No opponent. For the first round of the presidential election taking place today in Algeria, the head of the outgoing State, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been revising the constitution to run for a third term, is the free way. Elected in 1999, re-elected in 2004, it should retain the reins of the country. "If he wins a third term, it is because it has failed to find a successor for him," says Khadija Mohsen Finan, programme Maghreb to the French Institute for international relations (Ifri). Power was able to explode the opposition and the sideline by making it trivial. The powers are concentrated in the hands of the army, intelligence services of the Presidency and this has not changed since 1965.

The five candidates opposing Abdelaziz Bouteflika, during the campaign, denounced the lack of financial means and criticized the use of public funds in favour "of a single candidate." The two main opposition parties, the Front des Forces Socialists (FFS) of Hocine Aït Ahmed, and the rally for Culture and democracy (RCD) of Saïd Saadi, them, decided to throw the sponge by not presenting a candidate.

Well implanted in Kabylia, where where, on 27 March, President Bouteflika has tried to mobilize troops. "The Algeria awaits you and needs you", he launched a crowd, in the presidential elections of 1999 and 2004, has been illustrated by very low failure rates. This time, Abdelaziz Bouteflika would seek a popular plebiscite.

"React by cessation."

The participation rate will be the great issue of this election but it is not certain that it is up to his hopes. "People will respond by smoking cessation predicts Khadija Mohsen Finan." They have already done in previous elections, via record abstention rates because they know that decisions are made without regard to their newsletter. Once more, this election will sign the divorce between the society and the ruling class and the latter will continue to govern without the company.

About the lack of future prospects, Algerians choose to leave. "harragas" cast into the sea with only one goal to reach Europe. Left to die. For the opponents of the candidate, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, this phenomenon is a real spot on its political balance. The feeling of distrust is a real candidate represents yet with the promise to invest 150 billion (113 billion euros) and create not less than 3 million jobs within five years.

"The illusion of a transition."

A failure to convince, Bouteflika is trying to seduce. During the campaign, he suggested to delete all the debts of farmers and ranchers, or EUR 410 million. For some people recognize the head of the State to have maintained a certain unity in the country, even if national reconciliation has not fully succeeded. Despite a conflict which was 150,000 dead between 1992 and 1999, "The Algeria exists and has not imploded," concedes Algerian researcher. "It has also found a will on the international stage, he adds." But Bouteflika has already used these arguments in 1999 and 2004. Today, it has more cards to play. It cannot but give the illusion of a political transition.