ALGIERS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Islamist Movement for Society of Peace (MSP), the largest Islamist oriented party in Algeria, said on Saturday that it has chosen its leader Abderrazak Makri to run for the presidential election on April 18.
Such a decision was taken late on Friday during the party's Shura Council, the highest body of the party, said a short statement posted on the official website of the party.
This decision has been expected by observers regarding the recurrent statements of Makri who said several times that he is ready to race for presidential poll.
Makri noted that in case he is elected as president, he would work for "implementing consensus project aiming at getting the country out of lasting political and economic crisis."
The other opposition party, the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), the oldest opposition party in the North African nation, said on Friday that it will not participate in the forthcoming election, calling on voters to boycott.
Last week, incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika officially summoned the electorate for the presidential elections scheduled for April 18.
According to the latest figures of the Interior Ministry, as many as 101 potential candidates submitted their applications, pending approval, to take part in the election, including leaders of 13 political parties.
Still, suspense is still reigning on whether Bouteflika would run for a fifth term, while deadline for candidacy submission is set for midnight of March 3.
