Islamists continue boycott of Algerian presidential election

Scheduled this coming April 17th, the coming Algerian presidential election is scheduled to take place without Islamist parties. None of these parties have designated a candidate. After voicing serious concern, the Islamist political parties in Algeria have expressed doubt over the respect the people's will.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Discrepancies between the ruling authorities' promises and their actions have in turn led to the Islamists' hesitation to join the electoral process. It's being seen as an unprecedented event in this country since the introduction of political pluralism in the late 1990s.

The Islamist party of Justice and Development Front (FJD, or El Adala) of Abdallah Djaballah was the first party to ask for electoral postponement. Djaballah was among the six candidates who withdrew on the eve of the presidential election in 1999, which was won by Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

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Along with Fellow Islamist politicos, such as Ennahda of Mohamed Douibi and Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP) led by Abderazak Mokri, as well as El Adala have announced their boycott of April's presidential election. Fears of fraud are fueling the e parties' boycotts. These parties say conditions are not right for a free choice for Algerians.

"We consider that the conditions . prevailing currently are not suitable to hold [a] presidential election. This explains clearly our decision not to put forward a candidate in this vote," Idriss Rebbouh, associated with the Islamist party, the Front for Change says.

Ennahda leader Mohamed Douibi, says that "the authorities, who have pushed the opposition to adopt radical stances by opting for a boycott." The upcoming Algerian presidential elections also face boycotts by opposition parties, including the Rally for Culture and Democracy party (RCD).

After incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced he would run for a fourth term, popular dissent here began roiling. Crowds of demonstrators jammed the streets throughout the country. Protests against President's fourth term leads in turn led to clashes with security forces.

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