ae p tid em te rsdn wud ae to have would President the term, third a up take to order in case, any In Bouteflika. to successor a of name the did Nor first. at unanimity obtain not did matter The 2009. of spring the in term presidential General a third forces, for eligible security was Bouteflika President of Toufik. head the by sented repre- army, Algerian the and president current the deliberation resulted in a default agreement between impasse. Two political years earlier, in January 2008, exacerbated several months of an of That 2011? January in point turning historic this before context under way by 25 January. But what was the Algerian January 2011 and the Egyptian revolution had gotten 14 on fall thundering a made Ali Ben President that . Indeed, the situation changed so profoundly but it did suffice to create a new political situation in students, college and school high as such people, young of categories other attract to enough strong not was It spokespeople. nor demands clear no had youth unemployed marginalized, of movement ous ple were arrested across the country. This spontane- peo- young hundred five than more and injured, ens doz- and dead two left crackdown government The euros. billion a nearly The at estimated burned. were damages furniture street looted, warehouses forces. security private and shops vandalized, were buildings Public reinforced and people, hundred several of comprised often groups, youth between several towns in as the south well experienced clashes as in the north streets the in towns the six all days, of course the over Subsequently, city. largest second country’s the Oran, in youth by riots major of in newspapers of offices the reached had news 2011, January 5 Wednesday, on mid-day By Editorial Board, Journalist Ihsane El Politicalto in Change Algeria TurbulentResistance of Chronicle Mediterranean Politics |Maghreb K adi Afkar/Idées The top management of the oil company, the largest storm. the in caught was 1999, cember De- since office in Khelil, Chakib Mines, and ergy En- of Minister powerful The affairs. internal gime’s re- Algerian the in approach traditional not is This Said. brother, “younger” his by led party political a cession to be glimpsed by floating the trialsuc- balloon of family of ambition his allowing of mistake the made Bouteflika Abdelaziz sphere. presidential the involved mainly that cases corruption major of ning begin- the was This economy. country’s the reform to operation an conduct personally to decided – rity secu- military i.e. – (DRS) Security and Intelligence of Department the 2009, of summer the of end the By damaged. deeply was government Algerian the of cohesion fragile the waters, rising gradually the “Algerianthe of front guerrillas.”social of face the In major other the were lead, the in servants civil with Workers’strikes, months. the over multiplied unrest triggering sparks the – networks supply gas natural build or grid electrical the stabilize roads, build to distribution, broken promises by the local authorities housing social Contested forces. security the with confrontations and traffic to cut roads major offices, administrative on attacks rallies, citizen involving or to leading riots and conflicts 1400 some chronicled agencies news 2010, In years. several for Algeria in rise the on been already had riots popular place, greater. been never When the “urban insurrection” of January 2011 took had politics for disaffection according to various sources on the ground. Popular 30% than less was 2009 April 9 of election dential presi- the in turnout The ends. his achieve to vote parliamentary simple a to resort to obliged was dent presi- The profound. was society with rupture The results. positive no obtained had term third presidential a and revision constitutional a the for 2008, campaign spring In candidate. single a for terms presidential two of limit constitutional the change

175 Med.2011 Panorama 176 Med.2011 Panorama f 01 I te ae eid te eta Bn of had4billiondollars. Bank Central the period, same the In 2011. of quarter first the in Algeria of Bank the by registered afforded by the 160 billion dollars in foreign reserves is however, flexibility greatest The protest. popular rising of face the in flexibility additional them gives this feel They decision-makers. Algerian the among conviction shared widely most the is This disunity. Bouteflika and the political system. They are afraid of not willing to do just anything to overthrow President fresh memory of the chaos of civil war. Algerians are society’s on relies also It peace. social of purchase not is authorities based solely on “political Algerian corruption” via the massive the of defence of line The centres. city in streets shopping new quered con- vendors Street economy. informal the reduce to plans abandoned authorities Algerian the group), age 29 under the in 23% at is (unemployment ple ed. exceeding 500,000 dinars (5,000 euros) was dropp transactions all for cheques using of activities. obligation The distribution retail and wholesale of part included also sures for those under 35. ofmicro-enterprises The government’s fire-fighting mea creation the finance and housing to access for rates interest improve sugar, and oil of price the support to 2011 quarter first the in mobilized were dollars billion three to two of lent equiva- The sphere. was budgetary the within ofuprisings therefore the movement to response first The Cairo. in Square Tahrir of occupation the and from flight Ali’s Tunis Ben upon arose issue political the before even events, the in content political any exclude to was reaction first Its youth. of anger the ment had decided to lend a strictly social content to fire. By the third day of the riots, the Algerian govern- the on “liquid”thrown of amount the is reason main The take. not did fire the But Algeria. in embers ing glow- with met revolution Arab the and wildfire sian The spark B solidating alittlemore. ion. The break is growing, the political impasse con- opin- public shocked construction Motorway West East- the of scandal the and affair Sonatrach the in press the in mentioned bribes in euros of millions of tody. The Minister resigned from his post, but the tens cus- in placed and removed, was company, African udgetary Unable to provide immediate jobs for young peo- produced by , the Tuni- R oom forManoeuvre not collecting taxes on a large a on taxes collecting not ­ ­ in Algeria. combative groups. The most is a the social spring for gains tangible public with sector, the economic into extended then movement The protest other. the after one to in give to obliged was everyone wanted to occupy the – public space. The government groups) Islamist from villages protect (tens of thousands of security auxiliaries recruited to Guards Communal the staff, finance paramedics, officials, court Doctors, down. country the slowing service, public paralyzed strikes larger and well. Larger as turn their in action take would sociations protesters, struggle: highway robbers, rioters. Organized professional as- to harm, do to capacity ers’ play- the rewarded government The state. the over ceived by all classes of society holding any leverage per- quickly was message The more. even socially them cost 2011 January of revolt youth the lowing fol- month first the in concessions political make to strategic The of 4 to 9 January, anticipated the situation and made of riots the after first the 2011, February 3 of Ministers Council The interventions. rare their in was evident officials Algerian of discomfort the and ruary Feb- of end the by underway was revolution Libyan fall of the on 11 February 2011. The with ground gaining revolution, Arab the the of certainly winds most was factor and third rallies The during marches. out rang down step to regime the for demand the which in strikes student major in framework corporatist their beyond moved ments move- Social Algiers. in Saturday every banned, still and born called people to march, was despite the fact that this was (NCCD) Change and Democracy for Coordination National A State. the by measures social of limits the marking opinion, public in strong was that political demand was weak in the street but factor second The extreme. was tension The alone. January of month the during self-immolation via cide sui- committed Algerians Six moment. any at gency insur- towards turn a take to threatened and sified inten- had protest social that was first The defence. not to limit himself to his strictly budgetary first line of riots, January the after wave shock the of face the in T Three factors Three T he he “Minimalist” A lgerian SpringIsaSocial choice of the Algerian authorities not authorities Algerian the of choice were to compel President Bouteflika, President compel to were R esponse SoonInsufficient liament and adopting a constituent assembly as in as assembly constituent a adopting and liament par- dissolving of April proponents numerous until The 2014. full, in term third his out serve to tends in- he that means This dates. election all respected agenda reform political Bouteflika’s President party. single the of end the with 1988-89 in begun ence, experi- democratic country’s the in beginning new making the parliamentary elections of spring 2012 a proposed and freedoms enhance to laws) formation revisions of laws (i.e. electoral, political party and in- of series a announced He proposals. constitutional the in opposition the involve to wished He practice. tution to re-balance the powers and expand political “in-depth”consti- an the on of decided revision had President the end, the In long. been had undertaken be to were that reforms of timing and extent ture, na- the on regime the within deliberations The tion. the na- to directly spoke Bouteflika Abdelaziz that the 12th anniversary of his election as head of state, hensive political reforms.” It was only on 15 April, on president intended to engage in “deep Algerian and compre- the that February 21 on Algiers to visit a after announced Raffarin Jean-Pierre Minister Prime French toAlgerian Former visitors. foreign his through opinion messages sent Bouteflika President war civil of chaos the of memory fresh society’s on relies also peace.It social of purchase massive the via corruption” on “political solely based not is authorities Algerian the of defence of line The malist policy response very quickly ran out of breath. mini- the possible, officially become had that ments adjust- wage of search in movement into country the put that response social the After significance. sions under pressure, gain time, not yield anything of defence became clear: not to make political conces- these two, very poorly kept promises. The new line of only with months half and two for storm the weather would government Algerian The expression. cratic demo- to – governmental strictly – radio and sion televi- the reopen to and life public citizen in participation tobroaden promised also Bouteflika dent Presi- point, this At lifted. was 1992 February since force in emergency of state the concession: first its with thewindsoffreedominArabworld. starting ground... gaining were self-reform dertake only very small steps. The factors prompting it to un- in so did regime Algerian the retreating, of pression im- the giving Although disappointed. were Tunisia biological rhythm of an ill, weakened president, sur- president, weakened ill, an of rhythm biological slow the to linked regime, The (2010). Union pean Euro- the with Agreement Association its amending considering was Algeria and (2009) time long a for nership with France had been experiencing difficulty part- The 2010). (November Laayoune of uprising had also become very strong again after the Sahrawi two the Tensionwith 2009). between (November countries relations freezing Cup, World the to matches qualifying Algeria- of quences conse- chaotic the by followed Orascom, Egypt’s investor, foreign largest the with conflict open into entered government the then 2008), (December try coun- the in investment foreign for conditions ening Algiers undertook a closing of the economy by tight- isolationist an 2011, of January and 2008 of end the Between trend. height the at Algiers surprised as Bouteflika’s awkward silence. The Arab revolution level same the on antipathy ders,”Qaddafi’s putting bor- international both at in “hemmed as revolution their to refer opinion-makers Tunisian and “hostile” public Tunisia, opinion has come to classify the Algerian attitude as In silence. chose Algiers Square, Tahririn gatherings major the and Ali Ben President political the in part processes of neighbouring countries. At the flight of take not and diplomacy ary tempt to follow an old dogma of Algerian revolution- at- its in failed regime his since so more the All flika. in all of North Africa became that of President Boute- power political static only The Algiers. in quo status the of favour in argument last the removed regime, Algerian the observed most had that country the co, mitment to undertake key political reforms in Moroc- Libya abruptly discredited this posture. But the com- changes in Tunisia revolutionary and Egypt and The those underway in region. the in open to most the claiming be been had regime Algerian the years, many For Algiers. in thunderclap a like resounded Parliament and Minister Prime the of power the ing strengthen- towards moving reform constitutional of The announcement “ A A lgeria utocracy” T hreatens to by King Mohamed VI of Morocco R emain the O nly

177 Med.2011 Panorama 178 Med.2011 Panorama h faiiy f h Agra stain rss there- arises situation Algerian the of fragility The 2014. April in term presidential third his of end the until power in remain to expected thus is Bouteflika President elections. presidential the event, electoral cal reform” agenda that excludes the most important The Algerian T nis andRabat. Tu-to visits her on Algiers bypassed Clinton Hillary State of Secretary US April, early in region the to visit her On borders. its along place taking changes major of stage the on player political background a become fact in has surpluses, fiscal and GDP in Africa North in power economic leading the Algeria, isolation. current aggravated has attitude This der. or- Arab autocratic former the of yoke the of selves them- free to – Syria and Yemen as well as Libya, and Egypt Tunisiaand in – people the of movement the support to refusal a as opinion Arab by ceived per- rightly NATOfinally is of “neutrality” Algerian bombing.” end “the for called Lavrov, counterpart Russian his with together Algiers, in Affairs Foreign no-fly zone. That same week, the Algerian Minister of the establishing 1973, Resolution Council Security supported country his that telephone the over him Ahmed that assured had Algeria, of Minister Prime the Ouyahia, (NATO), Organization Treaty lantic At- North the by Libya of bombing the of week first the in reported, publicly Biden Joe President US liberty.Vice all in people their of dispose can who potentates of that order, Arab old the to committed regime a and man a of image the reinforced simply Bouteflika President friend, Libyan his spare to ing wish- In support. regional main dictator’s Libyan the as Benghazi in (CNT) Council Transition National the the by over designated implicitly be to him, events, of course led has weapons heavy of use the of with regime Gaddafi the by demonstrators peaceful themassacre President control. to condemn of refusal Bouteflika’s loss Libya’s after astrous dis- politically became Jazeera, Al and Facebook of in view of the high connectivity of opinions in the era neighbouring of inadequate wholly already position, affairs This countries.” internal “the in neutrality of times, the to unadapted doctrine, its to clung and vived the eruption of unrest among the Arab masses he PaceofChangeUncertain government has embarked on a “politi- of thedemandforpoliticalchange. protest alive long enough to link up with a steady rise of spirit the keep to Algeria in movements social of ability the as well as just parameters, key are rocco Mo- in effectiveness their and reforms constitutional of depth the as well as Tunisia in transition ocratic dem- of success The particular. in movement gerian Al- the and general in movement Arab the of olution ev- the on depend will This this? change to manage Spring Social Algerian the and Revolution Arab the Will him. except parliament... of composition the life, theory, change: the constitution, electoral law, public in can, everything where agenda political a adopted has Bouteflika President Republic. the of President of office the hold to clan alternative an provide to inability army’s the conversely, shows, health shaky his despite term third a win to ability His decisions. political on army the of influence direct the reduced significantly has he but rule Bonapartist a of nence pre-emi- thetotal reconstituted Abdelaziz not has bloc. Bouteflika dominant socially the of factions other by challenged less or more were who 1992), (1979- Bendjedid Chadli by or (1965-1978) enne was figure more or less strongly This embodied by Houari Boumedi- coherence. system’s the ensure regime is to hide behind a guardian figure in order to the of tendency natural the But again. predominant becomes then army the of weight The mode. legial have made governance fall back into an artificial col- 1992 in FIS) Salut , du Islamique (Front Front tion arising after the electoral victory of the Islamic Salva- legial, but rather Bonapartist. Crises such as the one col- been not historically has Algeria in government ernment can come from no one but him. The form of gov- the behind impetus the as essential, however, is, role His politics. Algerian of re-opening” trolled “con- a ensuring facilitator a as appear not does He change... excepthim everything can, intheory, a politicalagendawhere President Bouteflikahasadopted h da pesr o itra ad xenl events. external and internal of pressure dual the to steps successive small in and slowly responded has president Algerian The legitimacy. losing is and weak been has conducted “self-reform” The from.