Dedicate the farce in Algeria

 Algeria's ruling coalition parties officially announced the nomination of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a fifth term in the presidential election on April 18, a month before the deadline expires.

A joint statement issued Saturday evening after a meeting of leaders of the coalition parties in the headquarters of the ruling National Liberation Front party, which said that the coalition parties, "nominated Mujahid Abdul Aziz Bouteflika for the elections in appreciation of wisdom and payment of options and appreciation of the important achievements achieved by Algeria under his leadership."

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said: "President Bouteflika has the right to run for a fifth term and I am convinced that he will run and this does not need to be guessed or calculated ... I expect President Bouteflika to announce his candidacy in a message addressed to the Algerian people."

Ouyahia said that Bouteflika "does not need an electoral campaign, because the presidential alliance supports him, and the people know him and see his achievements and won him in all stations."

The Algerian opposition questions Bouteflika's ability to govern because of his deteriorating health and demands that he not run, which is rejected by loyalists who say he can govern.

The Interior Ministry announced Wednesday the reception of 172 ads nominated, mostly for people who are obsessed, and about two weeks after the start of the process.

Among the most prominent figures announced by the candidate of the Future Front Party, Abdel Aziz Belaid, the President of the Movement for a Peace Society Abdul Razzaq Makri, the President of the National Construction Movement Abdul Qader bin Qureina, the former Prime Minister Ali bin Flis, retired General Ali Ghadiri and the Secretary General of the Labor Party Louisa Hanoun.

Most prominent candidates hinted at the possibility of withdrawing if Bouteflika were to succeed, with the exception of retired general Ghadiri, who said: "If Bouteflika is to run, I will face him as a citizen.