Belaid, Abdessalem (1928- )

Algerian politician, prime minister 1992-93. Appointed minister of industry and energy 1966-77, he opposed the self-management system and almost single-handedly chose and carried out a state-centralized programme of industrialization. Removed in 1984 after being in charge of the ministry of light industry since 1977, he returned eight years later to assume the premiership 1992-93. His handling of the economic situation, and particularly his attempt to reverse the process of economic liberalization, faced fierce opposition leading to his dismissal.

He was a political adviser to the Gouvernement Provisoire de la République Algérienne (GPRA) in 1961 and president director-general of the state-owned oil company Sonatrach 1964-66.