Algerians took to the streets on the last Friday before the presidential election to oppose the election that they deemed as meaningless and see as an elite attempt to cling to power, reported Reuters. Algeria is scheduled to hold the presidential poll on December 12.
“No to voting, we swear we will not stop!” the protesters chanted. “No retreat!”
They shouted their support for a general strike set for Sunday and demanded civilian rather than the military rule in the country.
The people of Algeria have been demonstrating twice a week since February to demand that the ruling elite before any vote takes place. The mass protests led to the ousting of veteran leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April.
Although the protests were initially against the ailing Bouteflika’s plans to remain in office, it went on to demand the removal of all remnants of a secretive political and military establishment that has governed the country for decades.
The army, the major force within the Algerian state after Bouteflika’s exit, sees the election as the only way to restore normality after nine months of demonstrations.
Army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah, who has emerged as the country’s main powerbroker, on Tuesday called for a massive turnout in the poll. He criticized the efforts by detractors who are plotting against the fatherland.
The protesters, on the other hand, cast the election as pointless if the ruling hierarchy, including the army, continues to wield power, and wants it to be canceled until more top officials step aside and the military quits politics.
“We will stick to our position. We don’t care about next Thursday. We need change,” said one of the protesters.
The five candidates running for the presidential election are former prime ministers Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Ali Benflis, former culture minister Azzedddine Mihoubi, former tourism minister Abdelkader Bengrine, and Abdelaziz Belaid, head of the El Mostakbal Movement party.
