Algeria’sTebboune kicks off electoral campaign with blunders

Soon after announcing early elections on September 7, the civilian façade of the Algerian military regime kicked off his electoral campaign with an interview fraught with blunders, false promises, inflated economic figures, and political amateurism.

Two sycophant journalists led the interview asking tailored questions to a president, who is faithful to a regime that made of opacity a ruling model.

Elections

When asked about the reasons for early elections, Tebboune mocked himself and showed a disdain for the Algerian people saying that cutting short his term was a “technical measure.”

He went on to argue that the Algerians never held elections on December and that September was appropriate.

Tebboune downplayed the seriousness of his decision to cut short his mandate. His critics say that not only is his decision arbitrary, but also denotes a lack of respect for the Algerian electorate.

He also shunned to answer whether he will run for a second term and fell into deep contradictions when he insinuated that he will.

For instance, he said his announced visit to France is scheduled for September. This shows that not only he will run for elections but also that he is sure he will be re-elected in a country where the majority of people abstained from voting.

Not to mention the Kabylie region where the turnover was near zero, Tebboune is believed by the opposition to seek a second term as early as possible in anticipation of protests that may erupt over worsening social and economic conditions.

The North Africa Post has previously written about the failure of Tebboune to diversify the economy and how his country’s voice become inaudible both regionally and globally.

Lacking tangible achievements to use in his electoral campaign, Tebboune uses worn-out conspiracy theories. This time he took aim at the UAE, without naming it.

Foreign policy

Tebboune accused the UAE- without naming it- of spreading havoc in Libya, Mali, and Sudan, though he said he wouldn’t name that country, which he said is conspiring against Algeria, because it is Ramadan!! He prayed with the leaders of that country through asking God to bring them to the right path. No leader has ever prayed publicly with those he considers an enemy except Tebboune!

The UAE, like Morocco, is not giving any attention to Tabboune and Algerian media’s smear campaign.

While Algeria has been suffering a series of diplomatic blows since 2019, Tebboune with his populist tone spoke of great respect enjoyed by Algiers by great powers which he didn’t name.

Indeed, Algeria is on a cold war with Morocco, Mali, and to some extent Niger. But at least it has seemingly won the support of half Libya and half Sudan, where Algiers tilted to back a warring party against another further worsening the regional stability outlook. Increasingly isolated Algeria worsened ties with Spain but it can be contented with vassalizing cash-strapped Tunisia.

Russia, which has great leverage on Algeria as its main arms supplier, is looking to Algeria as a client rather than a partner or ally as the two countries adopt opposing stands on anti-West Sahel regimes.

The West has taken note of Algeria’s failed quest to join BRICS and Tebboune paying lip service to Putin when he said Algeria is ready to back Russian efforts to weaken the dollar.

Isolation is now reflected in Algeria’s status in the Arab world, where it is perceived as an Iranian proxy.

On the Maghreb, Tebboune confirmed Algeria is seeking a new regional body with Tunisia and half-Libya, Tripoli government, putting the final nail in the coffin of the Maghreb Arab Union.

After cutting ties with Morocco, closing its airspace to all Moroccan aircrafts, banning import of goods transiting through Moroccan ports, backing separatism in Morocco, Tebboune bluntly blamed -in his set-up interview- Morocco for not consulting with Algeria on its foreign policy choices!

Economy

After failing to diversify the rentier economy away from hydrocarbons, Tebboune manipulates figures to project a factionary economic development.

He promised to double Algeria’s GDP to 600 billion dollars! Currently, the GDP stands at 195 billion dollars thanks to increased oil and gas revenue after the war in Ukraine. The new GDP includes the estimated revenue of the large informal sector, a move that is taken by Algeria to downsize its debt to GDP ratio.

But analysts see that the price of oil and gas are poised to fall as the world gears to renewable sources and to go back to nuclear power.

With a growth rate below 5% Algeria should brace for another drop of its GDP and the 600 billion dollar figure is a disinformation by the head of state, who has a proven track record of inflating figures.

Last year, he said Algeria retrieved 36 billion dollars from stolen money by corrupted elites, before retracting to say it was 20 billion dollars. Both figures were dismissed by economists as inflated and lacking evidence.

Tebboune, in his interview, mentioned that the country would prepare 100,000 hectares…to produce milk powder in the Sahara desert area of Adrar. Another promise to calm down disenchanted people who have normalized with long queues for milk and grains.

The hydrocarbons glue that has been holding Algeria together no longer sticks and Tebboune and his military mentors are well aware that their exporting capacity is decreasing on the back of higher domestic consumption.

Instead of carrying out painful reforms, Tebboune increased subsidies and adopted an expansive budget that augurs ill for the country’s fiscal deficit and financial health.