Algeria: Louisa Hanoune runs for president
Five years after a nationwide peaceful protest movement forced octogenarian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign, there is hope that a new generation of politicians in Algeria might enter the fray under the leadership of a heroine, who some consider to be a champion of reform.
Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party (PT) Louisa Hanoune just recently announced her candidacy for the upcoming Algerian presidential election scheduled for September 7 during a news conference held at her party’s headquarters, according to the Arab Weekly and news agencies on May 19th.
Hanoune has run before as a presidential candidate but only as a token candidate. This time it is believed she is actually going for the top job in a country considered a key ally of Russia but which, by contrast, is becoming more important to the EU due to its energy reserves.
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Her candidacy comes as current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune himself has not formally announced plans to seek a second term leaving a vacuum for the deep state which she feels is there for the taking. Hanoune emphasised the critical importance of her party’s participation in the election, highlighting commitment to offering substantial political solutions.
“At the PT, we believe that participating in the September 7 presidential election is crucial. This electoral event is unique and we will present concrete political solutions as part of our campaign,” she said.
Elaborating on the PT’s motivations, she said, “We have decided to participate in the elections to ensure the continuity and sovereignty of the State … Our campaign will not be a traditional defensive one.”
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Hanoune described her participation in the elections as a “victory for democracy,” noting that her election campaign would be “offensive” rather than “defensive.”
Her history as a political heavyweight who has sacrificed much to be where she is today is believed to stand her in good stead with the electorate who had, until now, given up on the elections to determine a president, with a large part simply not voting.
She was imprisoned in May 2019 on charges of “conspiring” against the state and the army following the start of the popular movement.
In 2021, the court acquitted Louisa Hanoune, Said Bouteflika, former intelligence directors Lieutenant General Mohamed Mediene and General Othman Tartag.
Arab Weekly/Agencies
