Tebboune was surprisingly appointed in May and he quickly challenged the presidency's business-as-usual approach with an anti-graft campaign taking on 'oligarchs' close to presidential brother Saïd Bouteflika...
Anti-Tebboune leakers pounced on presidential disapproval of the premier's unsanctioned vacation while media close to Saïd Bouteflika's favourite businessman Forum des Chefs d'Entreprise (FCE) chief Ali Haddad suggested the Philippe meeting was intended to garner support for a presidential bid by Tebboune in 2019 – when some loyalists believe the octogenarian president could stand again...
Few doubt the 'presidential clan' is dominant at present driven by Saïd Bouteflika and backed by Ouyahia – at least until the new premier's presidential ambitions collide with the interests of the president's younger brother (AC Vol 57 No 13 Political plots in a slow month)...
Alongside him was his powerful younger brother Saïd Bouteflika who was accompanied by his two young sons...
Boom scepticsBooming Algerian businesses tend to be close to Saïd Bouteflika and Haddad...
The top team around the President – led by his brother Saïd Bouteflika; the Chief of Staff and Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah; Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal; and the former Premier-turned-directeur de cabinet of the Presidential Office Ahmed Ouyahia – provide cover for Boutef who is usually absent from day-to-day business (AC Vol 57 No 13 Political plots in a slow month)...
This is a rare sign that a more dynamic local economy is emerging despite years of political stasis and Le Pouvoir's method of working with a small network of favoured business bosses in the employers' federation the Forum des chefs d'entreprises led by a Saïd Bouteflika ally Ali Haddad...
Haddad is an ally of the President's brother Saïd Bouteflika but some expect his influence to decline in 2017...
Faction fights have revolved around presidential brother Saïd Bouteflika who is central to the sérail which controls El Mouradia presidential palace...
The decision on a successor would be made in the President's name by Saïd Bouteflika Sellal and third in the hierarchy Bouterfa...
The most anticipated clause opening the way for Bouteflika to appoint a vice-president (a post his allies have long desired for his unpopular brother Saïd Bouteflika) was omitted...
Pouvoir politics will not easily go away: several departing décideurs – those who decide – had reached retirement age but were also identified with factions that opposed the ambitions of the controversial presidential brother Saïd Bouteflika...
The key change would finally allow the Bouteflika clan to appoint a vice-president Saïd Bouteflika being one heavily contested candidate...