New reports suggest Algeria presidential election elections scheduled to be held on July 4 might get postponed as people continued to protest on the streets for the 13th successive Friday to maintain pressure on the government for the removal of the nation’s ruling elite, reported Reuters.
Last month, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced to quit under pressure from protesters and the army after being in power for the last two decades. Even after Bouteflika’s exit, the demonstrations continued seeking political reforms and the removal of all officials belonging to former President.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the election was to be delayed due to difficulties of organizing the logistics in time and opposition on the street.
“There won’t be elections on July 4,” he told the publication, asking not to be named.
Hundreds of protesters began gathering again on Friday, calling for the resignations of the interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah, and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, appointed by Bouteflika days before he stepped down.
“No to elections of shame. Remove Bensalah and Bedoui first,” read one of the banners held up by protestors in downtown Algiers.
They continue to demand the resignations of the interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah, and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who was appointed by Bouteflika days before he quit.
“No the rule of generals,” read another banner.
Currently, the Algerian army is overseeing a 90-day transitional period and has promised to conduct presidential elections on July 4.
The Constitutional Council, the official body assigned to oversee the transition, was expected to issue a statement on the election process. The last date for would-be presidential candidates to collect and submit 60,000 signatures is May 25.
The source told Reuters that the vote could be delayed until the end of the year. Some of the names that have come up as possible candidates to run the transition include conservative former minister Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi and technocrat and former prime minister Ahmed Benbitour.
