Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerrad on Thursday offered his resignation along with his cabinet following June 12 parliamentary elections, reported Africa News.
According to a statement released by the Algerian presidency, Djerad presented his resignation letter during a meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune who asked him to keep handling affairs until the new government is in place, a task that must be completed within 30 days. The new parliament will be inaugurated by July.
Djerad’s resignation follows a parliamentary election held on June 12 that saw a low turnout and no majority winner after two years of mass protests and political turmoil. The vote was boycotted by supporters of the long-running Hirak protest movement, and at just 23 percent, the turnout was the lowest ever recorded in an Algerian election.
Algeria’s biggest political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was declared as the winner of the general election, gaining 98 seats in the 407-seat parliament. Independent candidates won 84 seats and the Islamist-leaning Movement of Society for Peace 65, while the pro-establishment Democratic National Rally party won 58 seats.
The Future Party secured 48 seats, while the National Building Movement won 39 seats, followed by the Justice and Development Front party with just two seats.
According to the Algerian constitution, the president will begin consultations with the leaders of the winning parties to nominate a new prime minister after accepting the resignation of the government.
But as no political party got a clear majority in the June elections, a coalition of at least three parliamentary blocs will be required to form a majority in parliament for 204 seats.
Tebboune, who called the elections as part of his bid to build a “new Algeria,” had suggested that he wants a government of national consensus. Tebboune came into power after Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in 2019 under pressure from weekly protests by the Hirak movement supporters.
