Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday announced the dissolution of the lower house of parliament and called for early legislative elections as the North African nation faces a political and economic crisis, reported Reuters.
In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Tebboune said he will carry out a government reshuffle in the next 48 hours.
“I decided to dissolve the current National People’s Assembly, and to pass directly to elections free of corrupt money and open to youth,” the Algerian president said.
He said the dissolution decision was part of reforms after amendments were made to the country’s constitution in November last year aimed at giving more powers to the parliament.
Tebboune said there will be a reshuffle in sectors that have experienced a lack of performance.
The dissolution came after a series of meetings between the president and heads of parties, including Belaid, and Abdelkader Bengrina, head of the National Building Movement and former minister and candidate in the presidential elections.
Tebboune also issued a pardon for dozens of jailed activists of the Hirak protest movement, which forced former strongman Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down from power in 2019.
He said in his speech 55-60 detainees would be released immediately, a demand that has been repeatedly raised by the protesters. He vowed to meet all demands raised by the Hirak protesters who are seeking to overhaul the country’s political system which has been in place since it gained independence from France in 1962.
The release comes amid calls for street marches in Algiers to mark the second anniversary of the protest movement.
Hundreds of Algerians came out on the streets in the eastern town of Kherrata on Tuesday, the first protests since the government banned marches in March last year as part of measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
