Ali Benflis

1945 -

Prime minister of Algeria; minister of justice.

Ali Benflis pursued a legal career before entering politics. His initial interest was in juvenile delinquency and in rehabilitation. He assisted in the founding of the state-sponsored Ligue Algérien des Droits de l'Homme (LADH) in 1987. He was appointed minister of justice in 1988 by Prime Minister Kasdi Merbah, and he maintained this portfolio in Mouloud Hamrouche's government from 1989 to 1991. He resigned, however, when Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghozali sought legislation for internment camps. After the deposal of President Chadli Bendjedid and the cancellation of the elections in January 1991, Benflis became increasingly involved within the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) and was a rare successful party candidate in the first round of the parliamentary elections in December 1991. After the deposal of President Chadli Bendjedid and the cancellation of the elections in January 1992, Benflis devoted his political activities to the FLN. He managed Abdelaziz Bouteflika's successful presidential campaign in 1999, and served as interim general secretary to the president and the chief of staff. He opposed Prime Minister Ahmed Benbitour regarding privatization issues. In August 2000 Benbitour resigned and Benflis replaced him. As prime minister, Benflis has pursued prudent privatization and structural reform. He has also had to deal with Kabyle unrest since April 2001 as a consequence of police brutality and repression. Benflis was also selected as head of the FLN in September 2001. After the resounding success of the FLN in the parliamentary election of May 2002, President Bouteflika asked Benflis to continue as prime minister.

Bouteflika and Benflis reportedly disagreed over the speed of Algeria's economic liberalization. However, the rift that widened between them was primarily political. Bouteflika dismissed his prime minister in May 2003. Benflis remains one of the most significant members of Algeria's political elite.

Bibliography

Algeria Interface. Available from http://algeria-interface.com.

Naylor, Phillip C. The Historical Dictionary of Algeria, 3d edition. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2005.

— PHILLIP C. NAYLOR

This biography of a living person does not cite any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. (December 2008) Find sources: (Ali Benflis – news, books, scholar)

Ali Benflis (Arabic: على بن فليس‎) (born September 8, 1944 in Batna) is a politician in Algeria and former Prime Minister from 2000 to 2003. As of 2003, he is the general secretary of the National Liberation Front party. He was defeated in the Algerian presidential election of April 8, 2004 by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, taking only 6.4% of the vote.

Preceded by Ahmed Benbitour

Prime Minister of Algeria 2000–2003

Succeeded by Ahmed Ouyahia

v • d • e Prime Ministers of Algeria Ben Bella • vacant, 1963-79 • Abdelghani • Brahimi • Merbah • Hamrouche • Ghozali • Abdessalam • Malek • Sifi • Ouyahia • Hamdani • Benbitour • Benflis • Ouyahia • Belkhadem • Ouyahia

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