ADEN, 18 December 2005 — Yemen’s ruling party on Friday re-elected the country’s long-serving President Ali Abdullah Saleh as its head, in a move analysts said signaled he was likely to seek a new term.
Saleh, who has ruled Yemen since unification in 1990 after 12 years as president of North Yemen, had indicated he would not seek re-election as president in 2006 and pave the way for political change in the country.
Delegates at the convention of the ruling General People’s Congress, held in the southern port city of Aden, voted for Saleh to continue as party leader, and elected Prime Minister Abdul Qader Bajammal as the new secretary-general.
“Saleh’s re-election is a strong indication that he may run again next year. But Bajammal’s election is likely to mean he will be replaced as prime minister as traditionally the premier does not hold such a high party post,” a Yemeni analyst said.
Bajammal has been prime minister since 2001.
Some political analysts have said that Saleh was probably pandering to calls for reform by the United States when he said in July that he would not seek re-election as president. Washington has pressured Arab allies to allow more political freedom.
Saleh’s current seven-year presidential term ends next year. The constitution allows him to take office for one more term.
Saleh won Yemen’s first direct presidential election in 1999 with an overwhelming majority. His party still holds most of the seats in Parliament, which must first approve candidates before they can run in the election.
