Algerian protesters took to the streets across the country on Friday to demand cancellation of the presidential election set for December 12 until the old ruling guard step aside and the army quit politics. The marches marked the 41st consecutive week of protests that led to the ousting of a veteran president and arrest of top officials, reported Reuters.
The protesters claim the poll will preserve the grip of the politicians close to ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who quit in April under popular pressure after two decades. The ruling elite has controlled Algeria since winning independence from France in 1962. Although dozens of senior figures, including a former intelligence chief, Bouteflika’s brother, government ministers, and allied business tycoons were detained, the protesters continue to demand a complete political overhaul.
All the five candidates who are contesting in the December poll either supported the former leader or were a part of his government. The list includes the names of former Prime Ministers Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Ali Benflis, former Culture Minister Azzedine Mihoubi, former Tourism Minister Abdelkader Bengrine and Abdelaziz Belaid, head of the El Mostakbal Movement party.
The protesters chanted “There will be no vote!”, “We swear we will not stop!” and “the army should leave politics” as they marched through central Algiers.
The security forces used water cannon and anti-barricade vehicles to disperse the protesters.
The Algerian army has pushed for the December 12 election as the only way to resolve the deadlock between the authorities and the nebulous, leaderless opposition movement.
Tensions between the protesters and the security forces have escalated since the election campaign officially began earlier this month. There have been more frequent demonstrations, more arrests, longer prison terms and scuffles between police and protesters.
Earlier this month, an Algerian court sentenced four protesters to jail for 18 months for disrupting a presidential election candidate’s campaign.
