Bouteflika Third Term Probable

It now looks as if the only thing standing between Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and a third term is the fact that he has not yet officially announced his intention to run. He has, however, presided over a constitutional amendment dropping the previous two-term limitation. The major chiefs of the opposition parties have all indicated they will not run this time around, and as a result the announced candidates so far are mostly from minuscule parties or independents.

Bouteflika won handily with 85% of the vote in 2004, and challenging him obviously was seen by the main opposition candidates as fruitless. There are some lingering questions about his health, however; he was hospitalized in France in 2005 for a gastric ulcer, remained out of public view for a lengthy period, and reportedly had another hospitalization a year later. Both French and Algerian newspapers have speculated about his health, with rumors of stomach cancer most prominent. Bouteflika will turn 72 on March 2. Whatever the nature of his 2005 illness, he has returned to public view and seems intent on a third term.

The elections are due in April; the Algerian press has reported April 2 and 9 as the likeliest dates, and the date should be announced soon.