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Algeria elections
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Algeria elections

[Replies: 1]
Last Post Apr 8, 2004 4:51 PM by: LorSpi
Bilal
Posts: 784
Registered: 1/22/04
(1 of 2)

Algeria elections

Apr 8, 2004 12:38 PM
Poll challenge for Algerian leader
From CNN's Morgan Neill
Thursday, April 8, 2004 Posted: 11:09 AM EDT (1509 GMT)



Riot police face protesters on March 31, in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria.

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(CNN) -- Polling is under way in Algeria in a closely-watched presidential election in Africa's second-largest country.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika faces five challengers who accuse his supporters of planning to rig the election to avoid a run-off.

Algeria is battling a 12-year Islamic insurgency in which more than 120,000 people are estimated to have died.

The hotly-contested U.S.-style campaign broke new ground for Algeria and has been conducted in festive fashion.

Bouteflika is running for a second five-year term in the North African nation and since announcing his candidacy in February he has maintained his lead over five opponents.

He has said that Thursday's elections will be a turning point for the country's fledgling democracy.

"This election doesn't resemble those held in Algeria since independence because it comes after a civil war and several transitional periods," Bouteflika said.

Leading the pack of contenders is the president's former right-hand man and one-time prime minister Ali Benflis.

Benflis had been one of the president's main backers, serving as his campaign manager in the 1999 election.

But their relationship soured and Benflis lost his job.

The stakes are high. Africa's second-largest country is seeking to become more democratic and attract investment.

Since taking office in 1999, the Algerian president has won U.S. support for his efforts to fight terrorism and even boasted that terrorism is no longer a threat in his country.

For the first time since Algeria won independence from France in 1962, the army -- widely viewed as the kingmaker in Algerian politics -- has vowed neutrality.

The economy has enjoyed modest growth, about 4 percent a year, during his tenure and the U.S. State Department says Algeria has succeeded in trimming its foreign debt by more than 20 percent.

But such successes have failed to resonate with the country's largely young population, who are more concerned about the 30-percent unemployment rate and a severe housing shortage.

Bouteflika's political foes say he has cracked down on the free press and manipulated the courts.

"We as the youth should have faith, we hope there will be a change because this country has had a million martyrs and a lot of blood has been spilled. I hope it will be us young people that will bring on the change," says one woman.

More than 70 percent of Algeria's population is under 30 and many of them say they're too frustrated to vote.

Voting ends at 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), though official results were not expected until Friday.

Do you think this election is rigged?
LorSpi
Posts: 10,471
From: Islamabad
Registered: 12/12/02
(2 of 2)

Going to have to wait until after the election

Apr 8, 2004 4:51 PM
There are always accusations up front. What we need to wait and see are the reports of the observers. There should be a number of interested parties watching. Elections are complicated - requiring a literal army to monitor and facilitate. There is the registration, polling, counting and verification processes. Then there is the aftermath - can the losers feel secure enough within this system to accept the winner? And even more importantly can another election permit the peaceful transition of power.

The report that so many young voter are reported as "too frustrated" to vote is odd. What the H does that mean? That they don't plan to vote and won't accept the winning candidates?

Oh - fyi - the State Department doesn't usually gather that kind of economic data - it uses WB stats. Now State does economic reporting. But foreign debt stats are WB. That tells you something about the quality of reporting - can't get the basics right. Just reading hand outs and regurgitating.

DILLIGAF
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