In the midst of his campaign trail for the July 2 legislative elections, El Bina Movement leader Abdelkader Bengrina hosted a major public rally in Djelfa. He highlighted critical issues surrounding regional development, food security, and living standards, placing particular emphasis on sheep farming and slum clearance.
In Djelfa, Sunday, Mr. Bengrina dedicated a substantial portion of his speech to the province’s role in the national economy. He stressed that the province stands as “one of the country’s largest reservoirs of livestock wealth,” thereby underscoring “its significant contribution” to the breeding, meat, dairy, and wool industries. Based on his observations, this reality should allow Djelfa to transform into a logistics, commercial, and service hub connecting various regions of the country, given its central geographical position. Furthermore, he argued that herders and farmers must transition from being mere raw material producers to active participants in processing industries.
In this regard, Mr. Bengrina outlined multiple development paths, including establishing agrifood industry hubs, boosting wool and leather processing, and supporting youth-led agricultural and livestock startups, alongside opening up to international markets. Mr. Bengrina advocates for “the advancement of medium and light industry,” in his own words.
Regarding meat prices, he argued that “the resources mobilized by the state for breeders must translate into affordable products for consumers.” He consequently criticized “speculators,” whom he blames for driving up prices and creating artificial shortages. He called for replicating the successful strategies of Romania and other benchmark nations in sheep breeding.
The El Bina leader reiterated that minimizing development disparities across the national territory must remain a priority. “Djelfa possesses massive resources, particularly in the agricultural sector, enabling it to become a major economic hub,” he insisted.
Over 430 Initiatives for Djelfa
On this occasion, Mr. Bengrina reaffirmed his party’s support for the supplementary development program allocated to the province by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This initiative encompasses 431 operations—spanning studies, construction, and equipment—backed by a budget exceeding 184 billion dinars.
Regarding this matter, “we are already witnessing the commissioning of certain infrastructures, but it remains essential to accelerate the pace of project execution, overcome bureaucratic hurdles, shorten delivery times, and boost the efficiency of the firms in charge of construction, particularly local enterprises in priority sectors,” he stated.
With respect to shantytowns and substandard housing, through the lens of urban renewal and breaking regional isolation, Mr. Bengrina urged continued efforts toward their complete elimination within the province.
Addressing the youth, Abdelkader Bengrina asserted that they represent “the nation’s strength and its hope for tomorrow.” Recalling that young people form “the backbone of the country,” he warned against the threats facing them, primarily drug abuse.
In this context, Mr. Bengrina praised recent operations conducted by security forces in Djelfa against illicit drug trafficking. He highlighted the seizure of over five quintals of treated cannabis by joint detachments of the People’s National Army.
Additionally, he cautioned against what he described as negative influences spread through certain social media platforms. According to him, these channels sometimes seek to disseminate “doubt, rumors, and defeatist rhetoric.” Concurrently, he emphasized “the necessity of strengthening the internal front” to counter the country’s adversaries within the context of the electoral campaign.
Eradicating Substandard Housing
The El Bina Movement leader had previously continued his fieldwork on Saturday evening in the Relizane province during a public gathering organized as part of the legislative election campaign.
Speaking before his supporters, he first emphasized his rejection of defeatism, division, or hatred. In this context, he cited a passage attributed to Abdelhamid Ben Badis, published in his Al-Chihab newspaper in February 1936: “What the hand of God has brought together, the Devil cannot tear apart.”
Abdelkader Bengrina primarily focused on the issue of substandard housing in the Relizane province. He pledged to assist in eradicating shantytowns while praising the directives of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, particularly the national program for “shadow zones” launched in 2020 to minimize regional development imbalances.
On the ground, housing definitely remains a paramount concern. Despite public sector efforts in recent years, shantytowns and pockets of substandard housing still persist in certain areas of the country. The El Bina Movement broadly supports state initiatives aimed at eradicating precarious housing and rehousing families in decent accommodations.