ALGIERS, Algeria - Algeria’s first-ever presidential debate seems to have failed to persuade the country’s pro-democracy protesters to take part in next week’s election. The five candidates recited their platforms instead of sparring over ideas in the Friday night debate — and they didn’t even look at each other. Members of Algeria’s 10-month-old protest movement shrugged off the exercise as a farce. In the debate, the candidates — including former Prime Ministers Ali Benflis and Abdelmadjid Tebboune — responded to the same questions posed by four journalists. But if I am elected, my top priority would be to engage in a dialogue with the opponents of the presidential election.

Source: thestar December 07, 2019 10:52 UTC