(Ecofin Agency) - Algeria’s president Abdel Aziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999, announced in a statement published on February 10, 2019, his ambition to run, for the fifth time, for his country’s presidential elections.

The statement reported by APS, confirms the National Liberation Front secretary general’s announcement, in October 2018, indicating that Bouteflika would be a candidate for the country’s presidential election set to be held on April 18, 2019. In this country where the political class is aging, this announcement made by the 81 year old president seems to surprise observers the least.

The statement also informs that the president plans on amending the constitution once re-elected. Though the future amendments have not been revealed yet, the creation of a vice-presidency could be one of the major reforms to help the president run the country.

After twenty years under Bouteflika, Algeria is still unable to diversify its economy, which greatly depends on oil (93.13% of its exports in 2018). The African Development Bank (AfDB) forecasts the economy of the country whose unemployment rate was estimated at 11.7% in September 2018, to grow to 2.7% in 2019 and to 1.9% in 2020.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou