Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Wednesday announced a new government after June parliamentary elections, reported France 24.
The reshuffle was limited and there were few changes in top positions, in contrast to comments made by Tebboune in March promising a big shift after the polls. Tebboune was elected in December 2019 after mass protests forced his predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down in April 2019. He has promised to carry out political and economic reforms.
The energy and finance ministers from the previous administration will continue to hold on to their posts.
Ayman Benabderrahmane, who was finance minister in the previous government, will remain in charge of finance, while Mohamed Arkab kept his job as energy minister, the presidency said in a statement. Last week, Algerian President Tebboune had named Benabderahmane as the country’s new prime minister.
Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum has been replaced by former diplomat Ramdane Lamamra, who had held the role several times under former president Bouteflika.
The new cabinet consists of 34 members, two less than the previous one, and includes four women. The new parliament will take office on Thursday.
In February, Tebboune dissolved the lower house of the parliament and announced early elections that were held on June 12. The election was marked by just 23% voter participation and no majority winner after two years of mass protests and political turmoil.
The polls were won by the ruling National Liberation Front, but with a much-reduced share of seats, along with independents and small parties supporting Tebboune.
There was a record 77 percent abstention amid boycott calls by the Hirak mass protest movement that hit the streets in early 2019 to demand an end to the rule of then-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The Hirak movement supporters continue to demand an uprooting of the entire Algerian political system.
