Ahmed Ouyahia

Parties in the ruling Alliance présidentielle – the Front de libération nationale Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia’s Rassemblement nationale démocratique and Bouguerra Soltani’s ‘moderate Islamist’ Mouvement de la société pour la paix – are said to be discussing options including a parliamentary system or ‘semi-presidential’ arrangement to devolve power in the still highly centralised state...

Chatter has been widespread about a possible reshuffle that could remove the unpopular Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia...

Three major parties in the ruling Alliance Présidentielle (AP) of course supported Bouteflika: the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia’s Rassemblement National Démocratique (RND) and the Mouvement de la Société pour la Paix (Harakat Mujtamaa as-Silm in Arabic or MSP)...

Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia (also born in Kabyle but widely unpopular there even among his own family) shares with the PT’s Hanoune and the RCD’s Sadi a staunch opposition to Islamist organisations...

The latter move seems to further strengthen the presidential hold as the new Prime Minister – who is the old Head of Government Ahmed Ouyahia – is charged with implementing the president’s programme...

The Rassemblement National Démocratique (RND) leader ex-Premier Ahmed Ouyahia is among those who want the top job but he may have to wait while attention remains focused on older men – Bouteflika and pulling strings from the shadows the veteran security chief Major General Mohamed ‘Tewfik’ Medienne...

The three parties in the ruling coalition have 249 MPs: the FLN 136; ex-Premier Ahmed Ouyahia's Rassemblement National Démocratique 62 and the 'moderate Islamist' Mouvement de la Société de Paix 51...

Boutef is now expected to seek a more ‘secular' head of government possibly marking a comeback for former Premier (and presidential hopeful) Ahmed Ouyahia or another ‘moderniser' close to the army such as Water Resources Minister Abdelmalek Sellal...

Also jockeying for position is Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia from the smaller Rassemblement National Démocratique who believes he has a deal to succeed Bouteflika in 2009 if not before...

Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia has positioned himself as successor though whether Boutef honours an apparent promise to back the Rassemblement National Démocratique (RND) in the 2009 presidential poll remains to be seen...