Despite Tragic Violence in Algeria, Citizens Joke about President

Published February 5th, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

The continuing violence in Algeria has not deprived the man in the street there from his sense of humor. Yet, it is politics. 

In a report by the Algerian daily, El Khabar, the paper said people are going around telling jokes about their president Abdel Aziz Bouteflika. 

“If you want to reach Bouteflika, dial 00 – international code - or call the television. He is either visiting a foreign country or at the television delivering a speech.”  

“A homeless asked the president once to offer him a social lodging. The president response was I am a homeless too. I spent most of my time in the television.”  

These are the latest jokes on president Bouteflika, said the report. The president is usually painted as a man who loves long speeches, and besides all likes traveling abroad, said El Khabar.  

“As a matter of fact, political jokes have great success in Algeria, and most our presidents have been painted accordingly. Chadli Benjedid has been perceived as a naïve president, Boumediene a tough president,” the paper said. 

Although Bouteflika’s national concord policies aiming at bringing to an end the nine-year violence gained some ground initially, they have failed to stop the bloodshed that has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people in the country, which suffers at all levels accordingly – Albawaba.com  

 

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