| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Algerian political groups look for alternatives |
| 2009-04-18 |
| [Maghrebia] The sweeping success achieved by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the April 9th elections prompted several political parties and individuals to rethink their strategies and find new ways to weigh in on the political arena. Especially after boycotting the elections, some political groups now worry that their voices will be marginalised. Individually, they believe, they cannot count enough in front of the ruling power. That's what happens when you boycott elections: you raise your chances of losing from something, however tiny, under 100 percent to exactly 100.00 percent. Hocine Ait Ahmed, head of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), called on political groups and individual politicians to "join hands within the framework of a bloc". Right. And don't forget to march shoulder to shoulder. The current political scene in Algeria is exclusively occupied by the national, Islamic, and Trotskian powers, Ahmed said. Trotskyites? "It is about time to rally together the democratic forces and form a bloc that can offer an alternative to political practices," he said. Since he's bitching about the Trotskyites, I'm guessing the Socialist Forces Front is mainstream commies. Not that I know squat about them. Said Saadi, leader of the Rally for Culture and Democracy movement (RCD), welcomed the idea, "Yeah! Good idea! Shoulda thought of that myself. Before we boycotted the election." stressing the need to immediately lay down the foundation for that rally, crystallise joint ideas and draw a roadmap through which they can promote their plan. Right. Draw a roadmap. You should issue a manifesto, too. That always helps. Ahmed Ben Bitour, who held the Prime Minister's post for less than a year in Bouteflika's first government in 1999, said he was ready to join the new bloc if and when founded. He even said that "in fact, it should be extended to encompass all the opposition regardless of their orientations." "And then we can all boycott the next election together! That'll show 'em!" Observers are already casting doubts over the ability to form this new comprehensive bloc, given the reality on the ground. "But... They're all dishpits!" Many said that the differences among these political groups, especially in the platforms and ideologies, could hinder the initiative. "Some of them are lunatics besides being dishpits!" When Ahmed initiated his call, he said he realised that there will be some obstacles in the way to such grouping, but "we understand the need to overcome those obstacles." Sounds like the first obstacle to overcome is your own damned dimwittedness. |
| Posted by:Fred |