New Algerian government: Key positions unchanged

From a parliamentary majority unchanged after the 'victory' of the FLN at  the latest election, the appointment of Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal yesterday, looks like a cabinet reshuffle, rather than installing a new government .
 
 Abdelaziz Bouteflika has chosen to renew the positions,of strategic incumbents  Dahou Ould Kablia at  Interior, Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci, Karim Djoudi Finance, Youcef Yousfi for Energy, Transport Amar Tou  and Rachid Benaissa at agriculture.
 
Others, such as, Public Works Amar Ghoul, Trade Minister Mustapha Benbada and Abdelkader Messahel Minister delegate  for the  Maghreb and African Affairs, were  all also kept in their functions.
 
The Sellal team sees the ouster from the government of  such high calibre regime figures as Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni who held the post of Deputy Prime Minister, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, Minister of State and also the personal representative of the President of the Republic, and Jamal Ould Abbas and Nacer Mehal, Ministers of Health and Communication.
 
Khalida Toumi  is retained as culture minister  and is joined by two other women, Souad Benjaballah, Minister of National Solidarity and Family and Delilah Boujemaa, Secretary of State for the Environment.
 
Abdelmalek Sellal said his government will maintain unchanged the course of business, giving himself the goal he said, of implementing the program of the President of the Republic.