Bouteflika: Down but not out
Is President Abdelaziz Bouteflika capable of ruling Algeria?
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika ended months of speculations, announcing he will run for a fourth term in an election scheduled for April. This, despite not publicly addressing Algerians for three years.
The 76 year old had a stroke last year and critics say he is still too ill to govern but Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal who announced the candidacy, says Bouteflika is more than capable.
Bouteflika has not appeared in public for months, after a stroke in April last year. He came to power in 1999 with the support of the military, which has much influence in Algeria.
On Inside Story, we ask: What is the real state of his health? And what does the ongoing uncertainty mean for Algeria? and could he really be abe to serve another term in office?
Presenter: Mike Hanna
Guests: Saad Djebbar: an international lawyer and political analyst
Ismail Debeche: a professor of international relations at Algiers University and former leading member of the National Liberation Front
Amel Boubekeur: a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center and a specialist on North African politics.