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Abdel Aziz ButeflikaPresident of Algeria since 1999.
Date of Birth: 02.03.1937
Country:  Algeria |
Content:
Biography of Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been the President of Algeria since 1999. He was born and raised in Morocco. However, this fact is omitted from his official biography, likely due to political reasons. Bouteflika joined the National Liberation Army (ANO) and was unable to complete his final year of secondary school and obtain a diploma.
Early Career
After Algeria gained independence in 1962, Bouteflika became a representative of Tlemcen in the Constituent Assembly and served as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the government headed by Ahmed Ben Bella. The following year, he was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and held the position until the death of President Houari Boumediene in 1978. In 1979, he expected to succeed Boumediene as president but was passed over in favor of Chadli Bendjedid by the military leadership. Despite becoming the State Minister, he was pushed into the background. Eventually, he left the political arena in 1981.
Exile and Return
In 1981, Bouteflika faced legal action and was convicted of financial manipulation. However, he was later granted amnesty. He spent time living in the United Arab Emirates, France, and Switzerland. After six years abroad, he finally returned to Algeria and joined the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front (FLN) in 1989.
Presidential Career
In January 1994, Bouteflika declined the Army's offer to become the successor to the assassinated President Mohamed Boudiaf, seemingly not wanting to rely on political party support. Instead, General Liamine Zeroual became the president. In 1999, Bouteflika ran for the presidency as an independent candidate supported by the armed forces. He was elected president with 74% of the votes, according to official figures. All other candidates withdrew from the elections, citing fraud. Bouteflika subsequently organized a referendum on his policies to gauge support among his fellow citizens after the contested elections and won with 81% of the votes. However, this result was also challenged by opponents.
Health Issues
Some national minorities boycotted the elections, with the participation rate not exceeding 5%. On April 8, 2004, Bouteflika was re-elected with 85% of the votes. The elections were praised by OSCE observers as an example of democracy in the Arab world, but the result was contested by his competitor Ali Benflis. Some opponents claimed that the elections were not objective and pointed to extensive government control over the media.
Bouteflika was hospitalized in France on November 26, 2005. According to reports, he suffered from a stomach ulcer bleeding and was released from his obligations three weeks later. However, his silence and lack of communication about his illness during this time led to rumors that he was critically ill with stomach cancer. He was hospitalized again in April 2006. Bouteflika appointed a new Prime Minister, Belkhadem, in 2006. Abdelaziz Belkhadem announced plans to amend the Algerian Constitution to allow the president to run for office an unlimited number of times and increase his powers.
