Amer Ouali Agence France Press

ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s proposed political reforms received little support Saturday from independent media and the opposition who claimed he failed to meet calls for real change.

The front-page headlines of newspapers expressed the dissatisfied feeling: “Far from Algerians’ expectations” ran the Al-Watan, “Bouteflika ignores the opposition” declared Al-Khabar, and “Bouteflika disappoints” said Le Soir.
In a much-awaited speech Friday night, Bouteflika announced a series of reforms including changes to the constitution and electoral law, and initiatives that would enhance the role of political parties.

He said the reforms should be adopted before nationwide elections due in May next year.
But the Al-Watan wrote that the president’s proposals support a system which “wants to keep things in hand while making it appear it is reforming, which it is not.”

The 74-year-old leader spoke for just 20 minutes in what was his first address since the start of popular uprisings that have rocked authoritarian regimes in the Arab world. He also did not mention any of the demonstrations in his own country calling for political and social change, which began in January.

Bouteflika said he would ask a new constitutional panel of members of recognized political parties and experts in constitutional law to come up with proposals that would be submitted to parliament or a referendum.
A “thorough overhaul” of the electoral law will also allow Algerians to “use their right in the best democratic and transparent conditions,” he said.

Political parties, regardless of whether they are represented in parliament or not, will take part in the process, he added.
He did not talk about changing the government or dissolving the National Assembly which is largely dominated by the three parties in the presidential alliance.

“I think changing the texts or amending the constitution is not the best way to work towards changing the system in Algeria, because the problem in Algeria is that the civil and military institutions act outside the laws,” said Mustapha Bouchachi, head of a human rights defense league.
Alain Juppe, foreign minister of former colonial ruler France, Saturday gave Bouteflika’s proposals some endorsement, saying they headed “in the right direction.”