ALGIERS, Algeria: The head of Algeria’s largest political party on Monday questioned the leadership of the powerful chief of the nation’s intelligence service and urged him to resign.

The comment by Amar Saadani of the National Liberation Front in an interview with the online news site Tout Sur L’Algerie hints at a major power struggle in the country ahead of April’s presidential elections.

Mohammed “Tewfik” Mediene has headed the Department of Research and Security, as the intelligence service is known, since 1990 and is considered one of the main powerbrokers in this oil rich nation.

“After so many failures, in my opinion, Tewfik should resign,” said Saadani, whom he also accused of fomenting unrest inside his party.