The Algerian presidency has decided to exclude two parties loyal to former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from the political dialogue it had launched on Sunday.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received Sunday at the presidential headquarters leaders of parties close to him and others from the secular and Islamic opposition parties.
They discussed the dissolution of parliament later this year and preparations to hold early parliamentary elections.
They also tackled the severe financial crisis caused by the decline in oil and gas revenues, the health crisis from the coronavirus pandemic and issues related to protest movement detainees and a government reshuffle to replace ministers earlier criticized by Tebboune for failing to carry out their duties.
Observers agree that the political dialogue will not include the National Liberation Front (FLN) and the National Democratic Rally (RND), which have occupied parliamentary seats and municipal and state councils for 20 years and are among the pillars on which Bouteflika extended his rule.
Tebboune views both parties as a political burden because they are opposed by the protest, Hirak, movement, which deems them as “symbols of corruption.” Tebboune would not risk including them in any serious political dialogue in order to avoid a hit to his credibility.
Furthermore, several leading members of the parties have been condemned to heavy jail terms after they were convicted on corruption charges.
