Highlights
– President Bouteflika announced “unspecified constitutional changes” are soon to come
– Opposition parties are concerned changes may result in removing limitations on presidential terms
– President Bouteflika has not explicitly stated he would run for reelection, but as the next presidential election approaches in 2009, it is widely expected that his proposed amendment changes, allowing for a third-term, will be adopted soon
On October 29, 2008, at the opening ceremony of the judicial year, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika addressed hundreds of magistrates gathered at the Supreme Court in Algiers. The 71-year-old president spoke about his proposed limited constitutional amendments, which many believe would permit him to run for a third term in office. During his speech, he stated that he will ask parliament to approve the changes, which would “allow the people to exercise their legitimate right to choose those who govern them and renew their confidence in them in all sovereignty.” However, President Bouteflika’s constitutional amendments are not only focused on the president’s office but also on women’s political rights, and human rights, in general.
Despite the president’s eloquent speech, a number of oppositional groups have indicated Bouteflika’s agenda is politically motivated, and claim that the president is only willing to make changes as they relate to abrogating the two-term limit in the Constitution.
Nonetheless, Algeria has seen a number of positive changes since Bouteflika took office in 1999, including a return to relative peace after a decade of civil war and an increase in Western foreign investments. It is likely that if the amendment to abolish the two-term limit is adopted, President Boutefika will use his past achievements as a platform to seek reelection for a third term next year.
Past Plans to Reform Constitution
Last week’s speech in front of top judges was not the first time President Bouteflika has spoken about reforming the Constitution. He recalled that on many occasions he expressed his wish “to reform the Constitution when circumstances allowed.” Moreover, Bouteflika defended “the need to introduce certain urgent corrective measures to some of the provisions of the Constitution” by stating that the “experience of recent years… has proved [it] necessary, to guarantee more effective handling of state affairs.”
Although former Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem suggested a constitutional amendment would take the form of a referendum, it appears this is no longer the government’s preferred option. One indication was Bouteflika’s discussion of Article 176 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the President of the Republic may directly disseminate a law to revise the Constitution without having to put it to a popular referendum, as long as it does not go against principles of governance, change the balance of the power of institutions, or negate human rights.
Opposition Strikes Back, Future Outcome
Many of the country’s political leaders were quick to react to the president’s proposals. Those closest to the president and the leading National Liberation Front (FNL) fully support Bouteflika’s plans to amend the Constitution, stating that they are “fully satisfied” with his decision. Likewise, the National Democratic Assembly (RND) also welcomed the President’s announcement, and added that the proposals will “strengthen the foundations of the state and consolidate the place of women in society as well as their presence on the political scene nationally.”
Opposition political groups, however, expressed doubt that the amendments would bring about any real change.
• The Socialist Forces Front believes Bouteflika’s decision will do little to improve the political, social and economic problems of the Algerian people.
• Other opposition groups have voiced concerns about the fairness of the process, stating that a parliamentary approval does not equate to the opinion of the masses.
Despite the opposition, Bouteflika will move forward with the amendment changes, which is presently waiting to be approved by the Constitutional Council and passed by parliament before becoming law. The amendments will likely be enacted before the end of November 2008, and in place ahead of the April 2009 presidential election. Bouteflika will likely run for a third term under the new reformation, using the last two decades of leadership as a platform to reelection.
