Asharq Al Awsat
Algeria-Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Balkhadim broke his two-year silence, since leaving the National Liberation Front (FLN), to urge the party’s supporters to rescue it “from division, disunion and discord.”
The recent development follows a debate in Algeria on the succession of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
His supporters shared the FM’s message on the social network websites and said: “Anyone who sees the current condition of the Front would feel sorrowful.”
Balkhadim urged those in charge to put the party back on track. “We should always pursue completing each other to fill any gap from where riot can erupt,” added the minister.
Some observers saw Balkhadim’s letter an expression of his desire to get back to the general secretariat of the party. A source refused to discuss with the press the possibility of Balkhadim resuming his political role.
The Foreign Minister realized that the party is being polarized at a time of intrigues and conspiracies against the party, which is considered as Algeria’s foundation given its national symbolism and historic heritage.
Balkhadim called the brothers to reject feuds and to cooperate to protect the country and regain coherency between the party members.
He implicitly criticized Amar Saadani, current secretary-general of the ruling National Liberation Front, of violating the party’s leadership in a meeting held in the summer of 2013 when he was elected a successor to Balkhadim.
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