Wide consultations, 'without prior restrictions' in Algeria

The consultations with the political parties, associations and national figures planned for June on the revision of the Constitution will be held "without prior restrictions," apart from those relating to "the national constants and the founding values and principles" of the Algerian society. According to a notice on "general presentation of the proposals of amendments for the Constitution Revision," these founding principles of our society "are immutable and are not reviewable "and must therefore be protected from any offence." In a letter sent on Thursday to the national figures, the party leaders and the heads of organizations as well as national competences invited to participate in this consultation, Ahmed Ouyahia, appointed by President Bouteflika to conduct these consultations, underlined that the "suggestions" they will receive are made “for illustrative purposes” on the basis of the work accomplished by the legal expert committee. The proposals of amendments of the Constitution include particularly limiting to two the number of presidential terms, while its duration of 5 years doesn’t change. Ouyahia has also added that the Revision of the Constitution, led by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is part of a "participatory and sincere approach for the working out of a consensus draft (text) is to be submitted either to the appropriate process of the constitutional revision," by referendum or to the approval by both houses of the Algerian parliament. Ouyahia will “contact” these figures before the end of May to arrange a meeting at the Presidency headquarters in June to share views and collect the "comments and proposals relating to the Revision of the Constitution."