Algeria’s largest Islamic party to vie for president

By Abdul Razzaq bin Abdullah

ALGIERS

The Movement of Society for Peace, Algeria’s largest Islamic party, has officially nominated its leader to run in the country’s presidential election in April.

In a statement on Saturday, the movement said its leader Abderrazak Makri will vie for the post in the April 18 polls.

The statement said the decision to field Makri in the race was unanimously backed by the Shura Council, the movement’s highest decision-making body.

Makri is the second Islamist figure to announce plans to run in the polls after Abdelkader Ben Qureina, the head of the National Construction Movement.

The National Construction Movement was founded a few years ago by dissident leaders of the Movement of Society for Peace.

So far, scores of candidates have announced plans to run in the polls, while incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 81, has yet to unveil his intention.

Bouteflika, who ruled Algeria since 1999, used to announce his position at the last minute of the legal deadline, which coincides March 3, this time.