Algeria’s army chief has once again stressed the need for political dialogue that would lead to a presidential election in the country, as people continue to push for a radical change, reported CityNews 1130.
On Monday, Army chief General Gaid Salah said a new president should be elected as soon as possible to meet the demands of the people. He asserted that transparency and credibility are essential elements for a true democracy.
A consensus should be reached by “comprehensive dialogue between political class, civil society and national figures” in order to elect a person “capable of leading the country, and ultimately meeting the popular demands for change,” Gaid Salah said during his visit to the 3rd Military Region of the southernmost province of Bechar.
He vowed that no one would be spared from the corruption probes.
The judiciary must “bring to justice all the corrupt regardless of their function or their social rank”, he said.
“The fight against corruption knows no limit and no exception will be made to anyone… it’s time to settle accounts,” Salah said, adding it was “time to clean up our country”.
The Army Chief ensured that the military institution will ensure the corruption clean up approach is adopted to rid Algeria of misconduct and corrupts before the upcoming presidential elections.
Notably, Salah was the one who pressurized Bouteflika to step down. However, he angered the pro-democracy protesters afterward by supporting a since-canceled presidential election that had been set for July 4.
The crackdown on senior corrupted politician and businessmen has engulfed two former prime ministers, Ahmed Ouyahia, and Abdelmalek Sella, former trade minister Amara Benyounes, former finance minister Karim Djoudi, former transport minister Amar Tou, several once-powerful generals as well as the ex-president Bouteflika’s younger brother Said.
