Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is facing continued mass public protests, reportedly sacked the head of the state television, private channel, Ennahar TV on Monday.
According to a report coming from Reuters, the sacking comes after journalists working at state media protested in front of the state TV building to demand freedom to cover protests against Bouteflika. As per the report, Lotfi Chriet has replaced Toufik Khelladi. There was no immediate official confirmation.
The protest by hundreds of thousands of Algerians against Bouteflika began last month after he announced his intentions to stand in the upcoming election. The 82 year old has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.
Although Bouteflika finally bowed to the protesters this month by reversing plans to seek re-election, he announced that he would remain to be the head of state until a new constitution is adopted. He also called out for conducting a national dialogue conference to decide the timing for early elections. The move further enraged Algerians, and many of Bouteflika’s allies have turned against him as they pointed out that the announcement was made to illegally extend his 20-year-rule.
Algeria’s ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) has reportedly withdrawn its support for President Bouteflika’s proposal to hold a national dialogue conference aimed at getting the political issues resolved.
In an interview with Dzair TV network on Sunday, FLN spokesman Hocine Khaldoun said the conference aimed at reforming the constitution will not solve the problem as it will see the participation of opposition parties and civil society actors.
“Honestly, we are going to revise our position on the conference,” Khaldoun said, adding the “conference will not solve the issue because participants will not be elected.”
He said the need of the hour is to get a new elected president.
“If we want to win time, then we ought to establish an independent elections commission … whoever gets elected can then address the people and the movement,” Khaldoun added, reported Aljazeera.
