Bouteflika asks Algeria’s largest Islamist party to join government

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has formally requested the Movement for the Society of Peace join the next government, the head of the party said.

“I met with Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal yesterday [Monday], after we were contacted two days ago through a mediator to confirm the authenticity of a request to enter the government,” Abdul Razzaq Muqri said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

The Movement for the Society of Peace came third in the last parliamentary elections which were held last week.

Read: 35% voted in Algeria elections

According to the statement, Sellal confirmed that this request had come from Bouteflika adding that the decision to join the government will be taken by the party’s National Shura Council, which will meet after the Constitutional Council’s decision regarding the appeals.

According to temporary results announced by the Council itself, the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) held 164 seats, the National Democratic Rally (NDP) won 100 and the Movement for Society of Peace (ISLAMI) received 33 seats.