Hassen Rabehi, Algeria’s Minister of Communication and government spokesman, on Tuesday said his country rejects any attempt to interfere in its internal affairs, reported the Middle East Monitor.
The Algerian minister’s statement follows reports that the European Parliament has scheduled a meeting to discuss Algeria’s situation next week.
“The EU and all our foreign partners are well aware that Algeria adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and does not accept any interference in its internal affairs,” Rabehi said.
At the Council of Ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, Interim President Abdelkader Bensalah also reiterated that Algeria’s foreign interference rejection policy is rooted in the country’s political culture, people and institutions.
“Algeria is still deeply committed to the rejection in principle of all foreign interference in its internal affairs, whoever the instigators and whatever their intentions, often, if not always, using human rights as an excuse, an argument that is most of the time diabolically politicized,” Bensalah said.
He urged Algeria’s partner countries to show respect for Algeria and its institutions. He said only the Algerian people have the right to choose, in all sovereignty and with full guarantees of transparency, the presidential candidate they wish to give the legitimacy to run the country.
Bensalah also commended the efforts of the security forces and the State institutions to ensure the presidential election goes smoothly.
Meanwhile, the people of Algeria have rejected the presidential election, saying the continued presence of Bouteflika allies in the government means the election cannot be free or fair.
The protesters are still vowing for their demands to put an end to Algeria’s post-colonial political system. Those demands include the departure of acting leader Abdelkader Bensalah, Prime Minister Nouredine Bedoui, and powerful army chief Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah.
A total of five candidates including two former prime ministers, Ali Benflis and Abdelmadjid Tebboune, are running in the Dec. 12 presidential election.
