Algeria’s Army Chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah on Monday called for elections to be held before the end of this year to choose a new president after mass protests led to the ouster of longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April, reported Reuters. Salah and the military have become the de-facto rulers of the country after Bouteflika’s exit.
While addressing the armed forces on Monday, the army chief Salah said the presidential election in Algeria needs to be held within the legally stipulated time-frame. He called on the electoral commission to make a formal announcement of a coming presidential election on September 15. As per the Algerian law, the election must take place 90 days after the commission makes that announcement.
“Today, based on our mission, mandate, and respect for the constitution and the laws of the Republic, we find it best to summon the Electoral Commission on 15 September,” Salah said, as reported by the official APS news agency.
The people of Algeria continued with the protests on a regular basis, demanding for a transition to democracy and the removal of close aides of former president Bouteflika, including the interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah.
Last month, Bensalah had appointed a panel to hold a dialogue with the opposition and set election dates. But, demonstrators are not ready to participate in a vote until there’s a root-and-branch change in the government. Opposition parties and civil society groups have also called for constitutional changes and a reform of state institutions, seeking a transition period towards democracy rather than a quick election.
While Salah lauded the panel’s efforts, he called for accelerating the process for organizing the election.
“This election, which will be considered an important date in Algeria’s history, will certainly help us cross a far distance towards establishing a government of laws and fairness,” he said.
