Algeria Names New Premier to Speed Reforms

ALGIERS —  President Chadli Bendjedid on Saturday appointed a former military chief as Algeria’s premier and asked him to form a new government to pursue wide-ranging economic reforms.

Kasdi Merbah, 57, who is considered a technocrat, replaces Abdelhamid Brahimi as premier, according to a statement from the president’s office.

In a referendum last Thursday, Algerians overwhelmingly approved changes to the constitution aimed at reducing the power of the ruling National Liberation Front, the sole legal party in this North African nation of 25 million.

The referendum grants the premier greater powers--which are now wielded mostly by the president through a Soviet-style central management system--and makes him responsible to the National Assembly, or Parliament.

‘Profound Changes’

The presidential statement said the new premier has been asked to “devote particular attention to profound changes in the conduct of economic and social policies in the period opened up by political reforms.”

The political reforms are to be debated at a National Liberation Front congress Nov. 27-28 and later will be submitted to popular vote in another referendum.

Last month, Algerians took to the streets to protest their declining standard of living, food shortages and lack of jobs. Demonstrations in Algiers and provincial towns became violent, troops moved in and 176 people died in six days, according to official count.

The rioting ended when Bendjedid promised political and economic reforms, including the referendum and a government shake up.

Merbah “is known as a can-do guy,” said one Western diplomat. “He may be just the guy to oversee the changes Bendjedid is planning.”

Merbah, who has kept a low profile in the state-controlled press, has a reputation among Algerians for integrity and honesty.

He fought in Algeria’s war of liberation against the French in the 1950s. After Algerian independence in 1962, Merbah was made an army colonel and was appointed director of defense.