Algerians go to the polls today(Thursday) in presidential election in which incumbent President AbdelazizBouteflika is expected to win a third consecutive term despite oppositionboycott. Promising stability and continuity as wellas a development plan tocreate three million jobs and build a million homes, Bouteflika is expected to perform better than the lastelection in which he won over 84 percent of the total vote. But oppositionparties have called for a boycott of today's election claiming it would not befree, fair andtransparent. International observers including African Union and the ArabLeague will monitor Thursday's general election. The government promised adequate security measures to protect voters in theface of potential threats from armed groups in the Islamic Maghreb.
Oppositionleader Anouar Hadam tells reporter Peter Clottey that President Bouteflika'svictory should not be recognized by the international community.
"Youcan tell that the election is just to confirm the status quo because since 1999the Algerians have been deprived of a true democratic process. So, it is just adéjà vu and that there is nothing new. And if you have real observers you cansee particularly in the big cities that you will have less than five to 10percent participation in the election. The only challenge to the currentpresident is the boycott," Hadam noted.
Hesaid the incumbent government has made it impossible for the popular oppositionto fully participate in the election.
"Thisis actually because of the situation in Algeria where there are huge blocks andthere is no political life. Since the military coup in 1991 Algerians have beendeprived from their right to freely choose their political authority, andhaving been accused of making the wrong choice so they see no reason to go andvote again," he said.
Hadamsaid there was optimism among ordinary Algerians when the incumbent presidentfirst came on the national scene promising national healing among others.
"And of course there has been one timewhen in 1999 when for the first time President Bouteflika came with an agendaof national reconciliation and of course the Algerian people had hope thatreally he was the ma that could change the situation. But it was just a makeupbecause he did nothing new and failed to live up to his promise," Hadampointed out.
He said the military seemsto be dictating the fate of all Algerians by not allowing any real democraticprinciples to be entrenched.
"The problem is what we callin Algeria the "deciders" because the deciding army generals decide the fate ofAlgeria. So, they are really afraid of the political system in the country whenpeople are given the free will to choose their own leaders," he said.
Hadam said there is ampleevidence to show that incumbent President Bouteflika will not live up to hisword despite lofty campaign promises.
"Well he has been talkingabout promises for the last 10 years, but what did he do? He did nothingbecause the problem is that people are really fed up with lies from those whoaspire to leadership. And so if there is any reconciliation they (politicians)have to reconcile with the ordinary people. They have to go back to respectingthe will of the people and their freedom of choice and they also have torespect the people's choice to assemble and to form political parties to have areal multiparty system. The military should go back to their barracks," Hadamnoted.
He denied the government'sassertion that Thursday's election would be free and transparent.
"Definitely this electionwould be everything but fair and free election. Once you deprive the majorityparty of the Islamic Salvation party and if there were free elections theywould have at least allowed the opposition parties participate in the election.But since they were all prevented from being part of this election, they areall calling for a boycott of today's election because they see that theelection will not be free and fair election. So, it is time to change thesituation and it is time to allow our people to choose freely their politicalauthority," he said.
During the campaigning, incumbent President Bouteflikavowed he could offer a blanket amnesty if the last militants from al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa renounce their near-daily ambushesor bombings and turn themselves in.
ManyIslamists opposition leaders have called for a boycott of today's electionclaiming the election would neither be free nor fair. The opposition alsoaccused the government of violating Algeria's laws after the incumbent president was allowed to run for a third unprecedented term.