Algeria will continue its march with determination towards promising prospects
ALGIERS - The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, affirmed that Algeria was committed to the path of positive change, by continuing its march with determination towards promising prospects, with the objective of realizing the dream of the Chouhada, for a democratic Algerian State capable of defending its sovereignty and protecting its citizens.
During his periodic interview with representatives of the national media, broadcast on Saturday evening on the national television and radio channels, the President of the Republic expressed his willingness to fulfill his commitments to the Algerian people by "protecting our country and our independence and defending vulnerable people", indicating that the country "is committed to the path of positive change and will continue its march".
"Our goal is to realize the dream of the Chouhada for a democratic Algerian state capable of defending its freedom and protecting its citizens," he said, stressing that "Algeria is on the right track and that many efforts await us to allow the Algerian citizen to live in dignity."
In this regard, he warned against "lobbies that are trying to destabilize the country and sow chaos," adding that "the era of the Issaba (gang) is over although there are still remnants." The State "will fight these lobbies relentlessly," he said.
And to continue that "attempts to destabilize Algeria still exist but we are on the lookout to confront them thanks to the strength of the National People's Army (ANP), the control mechanisms and the digitalization put in place by the Algerian State."
In this context, the President of the Republic announced that the process of final digitalization of all sectors must be completed before the end of 2024, as part of the "efforts to build the modern Algerian state", despite the opposition of certain parties accustomed to acting in the shadows, noting that "bureaucracy remains a phenomenon of underdevelopment that must be eradicated".
In order to immunize Algeria against foreign interference and to thwart attempts to sow fitna among the children of the Algerian people, the President of the Republic assured that a serious national dialogue will be established "at the end of 2025, beginning of 2026, that is, after the revision of the laws relating to the organs of the modern State", like the communal and wilaya codes, in addition to the law relating to political parties, which he undertook to put in place in consultation with the parties.
During this interview, the President of the Republic mentioned the preliminary results of the last presidential election, announcing "investigations into this subject, the results of which will be made public as soon as they are completed."
On the social front, the President of the Republic reaffirmed that the State "will not abandon the citizen", and this, within the framework of the preservation of its social character, recalling its commitment to strengthening the purchasing power of citizens in order to preserve their dignity, through the fight against inflation, the strengthening of national production and the continuation of the increase in salaries and allowances, in addition to the processing of the housing file.
Regarding the composition of the new government, he revealed that its announcement "will take place before the end of the current year", assuring that we are currently "looking for the best skills in the country". "It is not a question of change for the sake of change", he said, stressing that "the ministers who have proven their skills will be kept in their positions".
Regarding the postponement of the resignation of the Government, the President of the Republic explained that the current situation requires it in order to manage the issue of the start of the school, university, professional and social year, adding that it is possible that the announcement of the change of government will take place after the presentation of the draft finance law to Parliament.
In this context, the President of the Republic denied any link between the participation of political parties in his electoral campaign as a candidate for the Presidential election of September 7 and the composition of the new Government, welcoming the efforts of these political parties during the campaign.
And to recall that he had presented himself as an independent candidate for the presidency of the Republic during the two previous presidential elections, and this "in the name of youth and civil society".
Algeria is a social state and will remain so
On the socio-economic level, the President of the Republic assured that the social policy of the State constituted "a priority" and consisted of not abandoning citizens and taking care of their essential needs, stressing that the strengthening of national production, the fight against inflation and the improvement of incomes through the continuation of the revision of salaries and allowances up to 100% increase by 2027 at the latest, are the foundations of the improvement of the purchasing power of citizens.
"Projects in chemicals, metallurgy and various sectors, with the aim of reaching 20,000 projects, 9,000 of which have been completed to date, will increase the financial capacities to balance the market," he continued.
After recalling "the steps taken by Algeria in the field of production of essential and strategic consumer goods, such as sugar, the production of which represents 150% of the country's needs, and oil, the production of which exceeds 200% of national needs, the President of the Republic affirmed that next year will see the implementation of a policy aimed at making the price of meat within the reach of citizens."
And to emphasize that Algeria has managed to "achieve 80% self-sufficiency in the production of durum wheat", which means that it "is capable of reaching 100%".
"Algeria is a social state and will remain so", within the framework of a global policy aimed at "preserving the dignity of citizens", he maintained, reaffirming his determination to continue the same path concerning the housing issue.
The President of the Republic also reaffirmed the State's determination to fight against smuggling and speculation through "coercive legal measures, but also through a series of other measures, including the development of free zones with neighboring countries such as Mauritania and, later, Niger, and the free trade zone project with Tunisia and Libya in the future."
To a question on the trans-Saharan gas pipeline project (Nigeria-Algeria), the President of the Republic affirmed that "the work continues and there are only 700 to 800 km left to complete" out of the 4000 km of the project, recalling, in this regard, "the agreement established concerning this project between the countries concerned, namely Algeria, Niger and Nigeria".
Faced with this "economic project", there is "a fictitious political project that must cross 14 countries, including the occupied Sahrawi territories, and requiring tens of billions", he said, specifying that honest analysts in the field of energy "know how to separate the wheat from the chaff".
As for Algeria's decision to turn the page on BRICS membership, the President of the Republic said: "we are not thinking of joining BRICS+, our attention is focused on our membership in the BRICS Bank, which is no less important than the World Bank."
Regarding the association agreement with the European Union (EU), the President of the Republic revealed that it will be revised "from 2025", stressing that this revision, now "necessary", will be carried out "with flexibility and in a friendly spirit without entering into conflict with the EU".
On the international front, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stressed the need for "thorough reform" of the UN and the Security Council missions, questioning the reasons why the UN General Assembly has fewer powers than the Security Council, deploring the absence of international law. In this regard, he stressed that "the law of the strongest prevails."
Asked about France's position in supporting "the so-called autonomy plan" in Western Sahara, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that France's support for the Makhzen to seize Western Sahara "is not new, and even the idea of the so-called "autonomy plan" is French and not Moroccan."
"We demand historical truth and demand recognition of the massacres committed by French colonization, which was a settlement colonization, and we will not accept the lies spread about Algeria," he also insisted.
The President of the Republic considered that the call by certain parties in France to renegotiate the 1968 agreement was "a scarecrow" and a political slogan of an extremist minority that hates Algeria.
Referring to the strong relations between Algeria and Russia, the President of the Republic indicated that "these are relations of friendship and mutual interests, rooted in history."
Responding to a question on the decision to reinstate the requirement to obtain an entry visa for foreign nationals holding Moroccan passports, the President of the Republic explained that "this measure is above all security-related because of the normalization of relations between Morocco and the Zionist entity but also because there are doubts about the entry of individuals from the Zionist entity into the national territory with Moroccan passports, which constitutes a real threat to our country."
"Investigations are underway following the escape of individuals who allegedly used false passports as part of an investigation into a case involving other people," continued the President, revealing that "the trial of these individuals and of certain Algerians will be public."
He stressed, in this context, that "Algeria will not expel Moroccan workers in a regular situation", adding that "the Moroccan people are a brotherly people and we wish them to emerge, safe and sound, from the situation they are currently going through".
Commenting on the congratulatory messages sent to him on the occasion of his re-election for a second term, the President of the Republic stressed that "this testifies to the international reputation acquired by Algeria and the mutual esteem with other nations."