Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Contact
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Toggle search form
  • UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba  Arab World
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Activism
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders American Arabs
  • Stuffed Grape Leaves. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice American Arabs
  • Andrew Boutros, interim US Attorney Northern District of Illinois. Photo courtesy of the US Attorney's Office
    Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois American Arabs
  • Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians March 18 2025
    Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip Arab World
  • Illinois Muslim Action Day April 9 2025
    Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference American Arabs
  • Investigation demanded in March 23 massacre of 15 first responders by Israel's military in Rafah
    Investigation demanded into Israel slaughter of First Responder in Rafah on March 23, 2025 Arab World
  • More than a dozen candidates running for various local offices in the Chicagoland suburbs attended an Ifatr dinner Thursday, March 13, 2025 hosted by the Arab American Chamber of Commerce at the Jerusalem Banquet Hall in Bridgeview.
    Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13 Activism
  • Orland Fire Protection District, Fiscal Voices, receive endorsement of the Arab American Democracy Coaliton
    Independent candidates for Orland Fire receive Arab and Muslim American endorsement Activism
  • Partial Image from a video produced by the PASC called "Citizens Against Insider Politics". The video slandered Arabs and Muslims in Orland Park as being supporters of terrorism. The PAC receivced a major donation fromt he founder of Pete's Fresh Market which operate stores in two heavily populated Arab and Muslim communities, Bridgeview and Orland Park.
    CAIR-Chicago Denounces Growing Islamophobia in Southwest Suburbs, Calls for Hate Crime Investigation Activism
  • The Arab American Chamber of Commerce of Chicagoland and the Palestine Club are hosting a "Candidate's Iftar" on Thursday, March 13 beginning at 5:30 PM at Jerusalem Banquets, 8314 S. Harlem Avenue.
    Arab Chamber and Palestine Club host Candidate Iftar March 13 in Bridgeview Activism
  • Television set and remote. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
    MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator American Arabs
  • Mike Ghouse
    Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony American Arabs
  • Orland Park activist Yousif Zegar addresses the Orland Park Village Board meeting on Feb. 5, 2024.
    All United launches to empower local community and drive political change American Arabs
President Bouteflika, Algeria (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Algeria’s State: Between Deep State’s Denial and Opposition’s Delusion

Posted on February 7, 2019February 7, 2019 By Abdennour Toumi No Comments on Algeria’s State: Between Deep State’s Denial and Opposition’s Delusion
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Algeria’s State: Between Deep State’s Denial and Opposition’s Delusion

Political debate between competing interests does not necessarily have a malign effect on the search for accountability.

By Abdennour Toumi

Last week Algeria’s ruling coalition endorsed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as its candidate in the April, 2019 Presidential election, despite his poor health — however, the 82-year-old incumbent President has not confirmed whether he will run for a fifth-term or not. “The parties of the presidential coalition nominate President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the upcoming presidential elections,” the four coalition partners said in a statement on Saturday.

The quattro partite alliance de facto have praised their political and economic record as the best in their two decades in power, thus overriding the critics, and showing high confidence in their policies’ continuity. To them, years passed too quickly and there was not enough time to achieve fully the President’s program. For others, including the silent majority opposition led by the al-Mouatana (citizenship) Movement, President Bouteflika has arrived at his retirement moment. It is time for a President the most exposed in social media to hear the many virulent voices raised to stop him from running for a fifth-term and re-election.

Yet the President’s entourage is in a race against the clock, trying in a preemptive destabilization doctrine action against the media, leaving the people to wonder. Up until now, several options had been revealed to the local press: the option to respect the institutional and constitutional scheduler, and let the elections go ahead, followed by a national conference of reconciliation. This seems to be the case for the deep State and the delusional opposition who had showed timid reservation.

al-Amir Square, Algeria. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
al-Amir Square, Algeria. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

Finally, the option of Algeria’s “strong man,” the brother of the President, Si-a-Saïd and his clan, or as Algeria’s Forces Chief & Vice Defense Minister General Gaïd Salah qualified this week, Si-a-Saïd’s friends as his sons! “… here come Saïd’s sons.” (Ham jaou wlad a-Saïd), he whispered into cameras, leaving the funeral ceremony at the passing of General Abdelmalek Guenaïzia.

This unscripted and unwatched fantasy drama series is making Algeria’s political observers and analysts observe carefully the hive of the regime’s key players in power-sharing dynamic conflicts: odd political couples in the Presidential Alliance and opportunist business and Union leaders are subconsciously cheering for a dynasty to keep the throne. On the other hand, the old-Guard and faithful descendants of the regime who feel threatened by the former.

So, find a consensual candidate that will bridge between the President’s brother’s clan and the military factions. It looks like the latter does not want to chock the Algerians nor the International community, they okay the existing state of affairs, waiting for Allah’s will, then act. Hence the candidacy of retired 64-year-old General Ali Ghediri, who is marketing himself as a Nietzschian affirmation, anti-system and man of the future. Although the analysts are still convinced that the ongoing trench war under the seat of the State would end up in a draw — a win-win deal between Zeralda’s clan and Ali Khoja’s Generals’ factions.

A successor to the President emerging from the military and Intelligence services would ensure the stability and the continuity that the RND, the leading ruling party in the presidential coalition, has insisted on as expressed by Chairman and Prime Minister Sid-Ahmed Ouyahia during his press conference with the local media last Saturday.

President Bouteflika, Algeria (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
President Bouteflika, Algeria (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a complex world of politics and its ruse, political debate between competing interests does not necessarily have a malign effect on the search for accountability, as long as this debate occurs on the basis of common values and with due readiness to reach compromises within the deep the state and its usual chorus, window boutique opponents, honey-tongued media and elite. As a result, this form of use of the power struggle phenomenon affects directly the voters and with it the entire society.

Thus a dysfunctional Algerian government means voters are turning their back on the political establishment, and politics in every election. Whereas theoretically, the Algerian 2016 Constitution initiated a system based on the ability of the holders of political office to reach compromises. Its strict separation of powers leads to shared responsibilities, in a checks and balances system.

Since 1999, though politicians have shown less and less willing to compromise or alternate; thus increasingly incompetent, successive governments have become a drastically tribalized and regionalized system, with each group unwilling to trust the other. Social media and populist politicians, pros or cons of the regime, encourage this mistrust, which makes Algerians more likely to take statements from their own sources (Taxi driver, barber shop, soccer bleachers, etc…)

It is the absence of an ideology that prevailed in the 70s and the mid-80s of the FLN Party and later shortly with the ex-FIS Party. The nationalist ideology of the FLN aligned with the hard-and-fast interests of their wealthy supporters to produce a political culture, which is fundamentally the backbone of the State, especially in matters of government. While a majority of Algerians are emotional, conservative, and “attentistes,” they wait for solutions from the State, i.e. the lodging and government housing projects.

Grounded in this is paradoxical attitude they criticize the government actions and the regime day-in and day-out.

Algeria, nevertheless, is like any State in Arab countries, whose politics demonstrates full denial from the leaders and politicians, who constantly hide the failures of their public policies and programs. Existing permanently in a state of denial creates a patronizing system that makes a prevailing segment of people’s mindset ready to deny the unpleasant truths about their leaders. Such a strict parenting practice results in an authoritarian political system, which thrives on politics of fear and fury and ensures distrust of any idealistic opposition and elites, creating a confusing sentiment between State and political and economic Power.

Cementing the holy argument of politics is like a Napoleon cake, a layer of people, and they are few in number, who make the events occur, then a layer of a clique that controls these events and observes their achievements, and finally a vast majority that will never know what is actually happening.

However, this large majority is not condemned to endure endlessly the pangs of a self-proclaimed dynasty, who puts its existential interest above the existence of the State’s integrity and its government’s accountability and transparency.

newswire info
  • About
  • Latest Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Abdennour Toumi, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Middle East, North Africa, Opinion Tags:Algeria, elections, politics, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Post navigation

Previous Post: ABPA of Washington DC seeking intern sponsors
Next Post: Veteran Detroit region Congressman John Dingell passes

Related Posts

  • USS Liberty, Outfront Media and The First Amendment American Arabs
  • US Israel Nuclear Ambiguity Declassified and What Vanunu Said Arab World
  • Palestinian Leader Dr. Hanan Ashrawi. Photo courtesy of the PLO
    Dr. Ashrawi: Israeli annexation pace is escalating and state-sanctioned settler terrorism on the rise Arab World
  • Secretary Kerry’s speech on Middle East peace Arab World
  • Looking past religion in Middle East Arab World
  • Of Land and Bread B'Tselem documentary
    B’Tselem-produced documentary “Of Land and Bread” premieres at IDFA Arab World

More Related Articles

Analysis: America’s unDemocratic process of “Democracy” American Arabs
Inspiring post-in notes from students in Algiers. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi Algerians want regime and Elite change  Abdennour Toumi
American Politicians, Bought and Sold American Arabs
Lipinski urges humanitarian aid for Palestinians in face of Trump cuts American Arabs
Sykes-Picot Agreement, Myth vs Reality Abdennour Toumi
Victims of terrorism climb according to Global Terrorism Index Arab World

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Ray Hanania's 4 times a week columns at https://RayHanania.com at Substack

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Photo courtesy of Journalist Abdennour Toumi
    France: Political Compromise vs Political Instability
    August 28, 2024
  • Zakia Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia
    Arabs eat Middle East food like they are making love
    June 27, 2024
  • Zwar lamb kabob and kufta with white and yellow rice
    Zwar ranked the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland suburbs
    June 8, 2024
  • Pictured: Rahm Emanuel, Afghan activist Salman Aftab who was co-chair of the Iftar dinner, and several non-Arab Muslim leaders. Also pictured is Ald. Joe Moore. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania for Arab News
    Comprehensive look at the failings of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
    January 18, 2024
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month
    April 29, 2025
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders
    April 27, 2025
  • Mike Ghouse
    Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony
    February 14, 2025
  • Arab American Democracy Coalition logo 2025
    AADC to host annual candidates’ Forum & Brunch Sunday at Nikos in Bridgeview
    February 11, 2025

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • NEWS
  • UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba 
    May 9, 2025
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month
    April 29, 2025
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Faisal Abbas Book Anecdotes
    Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom
    October 22, 2024
  • Columnist Ray Hanania at the ADC Convention in Dearborn with the author Susan Abulhawa
    Book Review: Mornings in Jenin bySusan Abulhawa
    September 14, 2024
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Television set and remote. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
    MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator
    February 24, 2025
  • ArabCon 2024 Gala Program features Dr. Cornel West, Macklemore, and more
    September 6, 2024
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2025 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme