Beyond the Presidential Elections in Algeria

By Aicha Lemsine

Despite the killing campaigns racking Algeria and France, and division over the Algerian presidential elections, there are certain things that bring Algerians together. Whether Islamists or secular, all Algerians yearn passionately for a return to peace in their country.

President Liamine Zeroual seems to be the one who reassures all, having the reputation of being a dove among hawks. He was the man who initiated contact with the Islamists, distancing himself from the eradicators. The talks failed in part because of the rigidity of Ali Belhadj, of the extremist Armed Islamic Group. As deputy to FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) leader Abbassi Madani, Belhadj limited Madani's maneuvering room.

Zeroual knows that the senior political and military leaders of Algeria need him, particularly since he was not responsible for the armed response to the October 1988 riots, nor for the suspension of the January 1992 elections.

Honor and Confidence

Zeroual is not a charismatic speaker, nor is he fond of the trappings of power, His candidacy for the Nov. 16 elections was motivated largely by the honor and the confidence placed in him. For the army, he represents the cohesion and unity of the armed forces in case of unforeseen developments on the political scene.

All observers agree on one outcome: Sooner or later, there will be a political compromise with the Islamists. Whether or not they ever gain power in Algeria, they at least will participate in it.

The boycott of the main opposition parties opened the path of candidacy to a number of relatively unlikely candidates, none of whom generated much popular respect or support. Zeroual's candidacy had guaranteed that there would be a serious civilian candidate, assuring the interests of the government. Furthermore, he is genuinely popular.

Zeroual's decision to run was not made wholeheartedly. Nor was it embraced initially by many secular organizations that portrayed him as too "soft" on the Islamists. However, since Zeroual enjoys the backing of the army, he soon was seen as the sure winner and many of his former critics raced to express their support for him. Even some extremists opposed to any dialogue with the Islamists rallied publicly to Zeroual, hoping thus to co-opt him after he won.

Even though Zeroual ran as a civilian, since he is a retired general he has all the culture of the army behind him, with its nationalist heritage and its reputation as the spearhead of secular ideals and political progress in Algeria.

Sooner or later, there will be a political compromise with the Islamists.

Most importantly, behind all the generals of the Algerian army, there are the numerous young officers of Zeroual's generation, especially the younger ones who received their training after independence. The majority of these younger officers are children and relatives of the martyrs of the war of independence. They form the core of the Algerian army, but they are conscious of being on the defensive inside their country. They identify with Zeroual and are ready to back him as he accepts the challenge of making peace.

The presidential election was called for now because a new president, with a strong and unassailable legitimacy, is needed to navigate through the risks of any opposition to whatever results from the discussions with the FIS, and to the potential coming to power of political parties that may want to question the role of the army. Zeroual also was in a way the only "genuine leader" in the race. Instead of an opposition headed by Abbassi Madani, leader of the outlawed FIS that gained the majority in 1992, the Islamist candidate was Sheikh Mahfoudh Nahnah, leader of the moderate Hamas party that received barely three percent of the votes in 1992.

Instead of the charismatic Berber leader and historical figure Ait Ahmed, whose party gained 25 percent of the votes in 1992, there was presidential candidate Said Sadi, another Berber, whose party obtained .05 percent of the votes in 1992. Instead of Abdelhamid Mehri, leader of the FLN that gained 15 percent of the votes in 1992, there was presidential candidate Nouredine Boukrouh, who has come over to the regime's side after opposing it. In 1992, in his own district, Boukrouh gained 108 votes against his FIS opponent.

Zeroual the Key

This quick sketch of presidential candidates indicates that Zeroual was the key to the transformation of the bleak political landscape in Algeria. The elections also were a constitutional way to save face for all of the political actors in the Algerian crisis by starting a new chapter. A great part of the Algerian media have followed the anti-dialogue line, demonizing all proponents of dialogue and thus contributing to the climate of death that has led 50,000 Algerians to early graves.

Now more evident than ever is the need for a democratic and united Algeria. Liamine Zeroual seems to have the courage to follow through to the end of the path of national reconciliation that can lead to this Algeria.

Aicha Lemsine is an Algerian journalist, author and vice-president of Women's WORLD, the World Organization for Rights, Literature and Development. She recently was awarded a 1995 Hellman-Hammett Grant for Freedom of Expression.