THE BID FOR POWER launched by the fundamentalist Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in Algeria now appears defeated. Though the FIS, led by Ali Belhadi and Abassi Madani, succeeded in its aim of toppling the Chadli regime, it too has now met with defeat. Both main leaders have been arrested and the Front's apparatus smashed.
Though the fundamentalists were able to win support for gung-ho militarism during the Gulf war, they have found it difficult to overcome the machine of the ruling FLN, which has had a solid grip on the reins of state power in Algeria for nearly 30 years. The FIS were able to take advantage of popular discontent at falling living standards, taking control of the majority of local councils.
But once in power, they found themselves in no position to alter the economic status quo. In addition, gerrymanderng of the political system by the LN meant that for any other party to win a majority of deputies required a massive majority. Though the FIS won double the FLN's vote in the June 1990 elections, the FLN could still win double the number of seats if this were to be repeated in a general election.
In addition, the fundamentalists have contributed to their own problems. When the main Algerian union federation, UGTA, called a general strike in defence of living standards, the FIS issued instructions to ignore it. But it was the fundamentalists who were ignored - the action won overwhelming support. And the FIS were discredited. Demonstators on the streets of Algiers With Madani and co on the defensive, premier Chadi decided to go for a general election on 27 June. The fundamentalists' loss of credibility was reflected when they tried, in turn, to call a general strike in protest at the elec. toral system. Large factories were unaffected - only Islamic markets.and town halls were shut down.
It was in this context that the state of emergency was announced. With tension already high, police assaults on working class areas of Algiers set off an explosion. The FIS were pushed to prominence in the absence of any alternative leadership for popular discontent. But also, the new Ghozali regime chose to ban political activity by all other forces, while negotiating with the FIS.
The reaction of the left was mixed: while the main far left party, the PST, called unambiguously for an end to the emergency, others supported actions called by the FIS. The Workers Party, followers of Pierre Lambert, argued that the fundamentalist strike should be supported due to the call for Chadi's resignation. The fact that it also demanded an Islamic republic was apparently regarded as unimportant.
The outcome of the state of emergency appears very similar to the pre. vious status quo, but with a new FLN figurehead. With both main fundamentalist leaders imprisoned and implicated in illegal arms imports, the FIS are seriously weakened. But there is still no workers' party capable of organising popular discontent in a posi tive direction. Building one is the task faced by the Socialist Workers Party and other left organisations, recently unbanned. Based on an interview with Chawki Salhi, a prominent PST leader.