Algeria’s ongoing political crisis is showing no signs of slowing down. The protestors poured onto the streets in huge numbers for the 13th consecutive Friday demanding the departure of Algeria’s ruling elite that has been in charge since independence from France in 1962.
The massive protests forced long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign on April 2. But his exit failed to satisfy demonstrators, who demanded Bouteflika’s close aides in the government to be removed too. Last week, they called for the resignations of the interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah, and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who was appointed by Bouteflika days before he stepped down. The weekly protests have become a way of maintaining pressure on the government.
“No to elections of shame. Remove Bensalah and Bedoui first,” read a banner held by one of the protestors in Algiers.
“No the rule of generals”, another banner read.
Meanwhile, Algeria’s armed forces chief, Lieutenant General Gaid Salah, on Monday said that elections were the best way to overcome the country’s political crisis and avoid a constitutional vacuum. He proposed the formation of an independent body to supervise the election, without mentioning a date for the vote.
“Holding a presidential election could help [Algeria] avoid falling into the trap of a constitutional void, with its accompanying dangers and unwelcome consequences,” General Salah said in a speech on Monday, reported Reuters.
“There is a need to accelerate the establishment of an independent body to organize and oversee the election. This would stop those who are trying to prolong the crisis, “he added.
Salah said the protestors’ demand for the set up a transitional authority to review the constitution were unobjective and unreasonable, adding that they sought to “deprive state institutions of their cadres and denigrate them”.
A presidential election is set to be held on July 4 but a source said on Friday it might be postponed.
