French-Algerian businessman makes unlikely presidential bid

Rachid Nekkaz, a French-Algerian businessman, gave up his French passport to nominate himself for Algeria’s upcoming presidential elections.

The French born and raised businessman told Al Arabiya he expects that the around six million Algerians living abroad will vote for him.

Despite his poor Arabic skills, and not knowing the Algerian national anthem, Nekkaz dreams of presiding over a civil state not ruled by the army.

With four months to go until Algerian voters cast their ballots, it is still unclear as to whether current President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will pursue a fourth term.

Nekkaz, who will have to collect sixty thousand signatures to be able to run for the presidency, says its time for a new generation to rule Algeria.

In 2011, Nekkaz made headlines by saying he was prepared to pay the fines that women may receive for wearing the burqa or niqab on the street in France, Reuters reported.