Algeria to form new cabinet soon after installation of new parliament

ALGIERS - Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said on Friday that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will form a new cabinet soon after the installation of the new parliament.

"The formation of the cabinet falls under the authority of President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and it is to be announced after the installation of the new National People's Council (lower house of parliament) following elections of May 4," Sellal told reporters at a ceremony in the capital Algiers.

The prime minister also commented on the refusal of Islamist movement of Society of Peace (MSP) to join the cabinet.

"We invited them to join the cabinet team, but the offer was declined by the party's Advisory Council. This does not mean that we won't deal with MSP in the future. After all we are all Algerians and partisans of national reconciliation," he said.

Despite Bouteflika's efforts to include all political factions into the new cabinet, regardless of Islamists, secular (left-wing) or nationals (right-wing), major opposition parties such as the Labour Party, the Socialist Forces Front and the Rally for Culture and Democracy, in addition to Islamist parties, have all refused to join.

The May 4 parliamentary elections were won by the ruling parties of National Liberation Front, which seized 161 seats, and the National Democratic Rally, with 100 seats secured.

Experts say the two parties will also command a majority in the forthcoming cabinet.