[ad_1]
The Algerian constitutional council said Sunday that it was impossible to hold elections to choose a successor to the overthrown president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, early next month, as planned, after the rejection of both candidates.
This decision comes after weeks of protests to pressure political leaders to postpone the vote.
"The constitutional council rejects the candidacies" and has therefore announced "the impossibility of organizing presidential elections on July 4," said the council in a statement taken over by national television.
It will now be up to interim President Abdelkader Bensalah to "reconvene the electorate and finalize the electoral process" until a new leader is sworn in, the council said.
Bensalah, the former Speaker of the Upper House, was appointed on April 9 under constitutional rules that a presidential election must then be held within 90 days.
This delay being certain, the constitutional council suggested that its mandate be extended.
The planned vote sparked many demonstrations, with Algerian protesters demanding that Bouteflika's allies pull out to make way for a broader political overhaul before the elections.
"No elections with this ruling gang," protesters shouted Friday in downtown Algiers, while protests had been taking place across the country.
The crowds in the capital filled the central avenues where they shouted slogans refusing pressure from the army chief for dialogue.
General Ahmed Gaid Salah on Tuesday called for "mutual concessions" between the interim Algerian leaders and the protesters, with a "fruitful dialogue" to ensure the holding of elections as soon as possible.
The army chief has become a key agent of power since the resignation of Bouteflika on April 2, following mbadive protests against his candidacy for a fifth term.
"High Risk Victory"
Gaid Salah had been an ally of the sick president, but under growing pressure from protesters, he finally called for the dismissal of the long-time leader.
The protesters have since called for Gaid Salah to resign, along with other personalities who they say are sullied by their allegiance to Bouteflika during his 20 years of government.
While Gaid Salah pushed for elections, July 4th seemed more and more unlikely, as no major party nominated a candidate.
A major obstacle appeared when some mayors and magistrates declared that they would not participate in the organization of the polls.
The two unknown personalities who came forward – Abdelhakim Hamadi and Hamid Touahri – were not supposed to gather the 60,000 signatures of voters needed to validate their candidacy.
The decision to postpone the presidential election has been described as a "victory for the street, but a high-risk victory" by Geneva-based political scientist Hasni Abidi.
"With this decision, the people in power take a path over which they will have no more control.The army wants to show that it makes good sense and that it makes a concession Facing a street (movement) without compromise "I said.
The demonstrations were largely tolerated by security officers overwhelmed by the crowd.
Dozens of people were arrested before Friday's rally and many arrests took place a week earlier during a protest in central Algiers.
Keep up to date with the latest news by subscribing to our free newsletter.
– FOLLOW News24 on Twitter
[ad_2]
Source link
