1996 constitutional presidential terms imposed by foreign pressures
Ouyahia upset by APN Chairman controversial speech
1996 constitutional presidential terms imposed by foreign pressures
El Khabar, 3 February 2008
The leader of the National Democratic Gathering party, RND, Mr. Ahmed Ouyahia, has informed the Prime Minister about his wonder and upset towards the content of the speech delivered by the chairman of the People’s National Assembly, APN, Mr. Abdelaziz Ziari.
During the closure of the Parliament autumn session, the chairman of APN has stated that the reduction of Presidential terms provided for by virtue of 1996 Constitution has been imposed from abroad.
A source attending the closed meeting gathering Presidential alliance parties last Wednesday said a verbal conflict has sparked between Mr. Ouyahia and his guests, namely leaders and representatives of National Liberation Front, FLN, and Peace Society Movement, MSP, on the speech delivered by People’s National Assembly chairman, Mr. Abdelaziz Ziari.
The same source told El Khabar that Ouyahia has talked in his capacity of a former Prime Minister who attended the amendment of the constitution in November 26th, 1996.
In this context Mr. Ouyahia denied Mr. Ziari statements while saying: “we are free in our country and the President is the only endowed with prerogatives of amending the Constitution as stated by law.”
He further mentioned while talking to the Prime Minister and the leader of FLN, Mr. Belkhadem: “It is true that Algeria has succumbed to pressures in the economic field, but we have neither underwent nor heard about pressures mentioned by the APN chairman.”
The APN chairman has made a controversial statement while saying: “the reduction of election terms are among conditions imposed from abroad on some African countries including Algeria during the nineties under the cover of circulation of power which is actually anti-democratic and against the freedom of expression as well as the sovereignty of peoples to choose their own representatives.”
