The Algerian National Liberation Front (NFL) Party has announced its decision to nominate Abdel Aziz Bouteflika to run for a fourth term in presidential elections slated for 2014.
NFL Secretary-General Abdel Aziz Belkhadim has stated that Bouteflika would run in elections unless he decides otherwise.
Belkhadim, who served as prime minister of Algeria from 2006 to 2008, downplayed the purported conflict between him and the current prime minister, Ahmed Ouyahia.
“This struggle for power is not present anywhere but in people’s minds,” said Belkhadim.
A number of political reforms are set to be enacted by Bouteflika concerning the constitution, which is expected to face a raft of amendments under the new parliament in 2012.
Bouteflika aims to grant more powers to the parliament, as will be spelt out in the upcoming constitution. Amendments are expected to include clarifications between the government and the legislative authority, and more transparency regarding state institutions.
Bouteflika announced a series of political reforms on 15 April in response to a rising political movement in Algeria – part of the ongoing “Arab Spring” – that called for his resignation.