Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Sunday announced a major cabinet reshuffle, following weeks of protests by demonstrators demanding the end of his 20-year rule.
According to news aired by Algerian national television, Mr. Bouteflika has named a new government headed by recently appointed Noureddine
While President Bouteflika, who has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, continue to keep his title as defence minister, he named Algeria’s powerful army chief, Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah, as the vice defense minister.
Some of the other new cabinet members include Sabri Boukadoum who has reportedly replaced Ramtane Lamamra as foreign minister, central bank governor Mohamed Loukal has replaced finance minister Abderrahamane Rouia, and Mohamed Arkab will take over from Mutapha Guitouni as energy minister.
Notably, the government has not yet officially confirmed the appointments.
Last week, Salah called out the ailing president to step down or be declared medically unfit for office. He cited Article 102 of the constitution, under which a president can be removed if found unfit to rule. But Protesters have dismissed the proposal from the army chief of staff to sideline Mr. Bouteflika, install the head of the Senate as interim president, and hold elections as they are against the army’s intervention in the country’s political affair.
Although Bouteflika announced last month that he would pull out of the race, he also postponed April elections which angered Algerians who see it as a ploy to extend his two decades in power. He said he would wait for a national conference on political change before stepping down.
Amid mounting pressure from the protestors and the army, it is rumored that the Algerian President Bouteflika will likely resign this week, at least according to the private Ennahar and El Bilad TV channels. As per Ennahar TV report, Bouteflika is preparing his resignation in accordance with article 102 of the constitution, which allows him to quit or face the constitutional council’s verdict whether he is still fit for office.
