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Tlemcen, Algeria – Protesters who took to the streets en mbade against the regime of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika reacted with glee following his withdrawal from the elections, but said that he now had to step down.
In Tlemcen, the stronghold of Bouteflika, 540 km west of Algiers, the president's decision was celebrated on Monday night as drivers honked and people in the street applauded.
"The protests have borne fruit, it's a small victory for the Algerian people over the regime," Al Jazeera, a 27-year-old cook, said while buzzing.
According to witnesses, hundreds of people gathered in the place Audin, the place of Algiers, in the capital.
Bouteflika – who has been leading Algeria for decades – faced three weeks of mbad protests against his mandate for the fifth term. He gave in Monday announcing that he would no longer stand, but said that the presidential election scheduled for April 18 would be postponed to an indefinite date.
The troubled president, 82, made this unexpected decision in a letter to the Algerian people posted on the APS national agency, a day after his return from a two-week stay at the university hospital. Geneva for "routine medical examinations".
"There will be no fifth term, it has never been a question for me, given my state of health and my age, my last duty to the Algerian people has always been to contribute to the founding of a new Republic, "he wrote.
Transfer of power?
According to Bouteflika's message, an inclusive and independent conference will oversee the transition of power, draft a new constitutional law and set the date for the new presidential elections. The conference, expected to complete its work by the end of 2019, will submit a new constitution to voters in a referendum.
Shortly after Bouteflika's announcement, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia resigned from his post and was replaced by Nourredine Bedoui, a member of Bouteflika's inner circle who holds the post of Interior Minister since 2015. Meanwhile, former foreign minister and friend of Bouteflika, Ramtane Lamamra, was appointed deputy prime minister – a position created Monday by presidential decree.
But the long-time leader, who has rarely been seen in public since a stroke in 2013, has not responded to widespread demands for immediate resignation.
"This is not a victory for the people, because the measures of Bouteflika are not in accordance with the will of the people.We asked for his departure, a democracy and the rule of law, as well as a real "It's not what we got," Abderrahmane, co-founder of the non-governmental organization Warda Project, told Al Jazeera.
Liasmine, a photographer based in Tizi Ouzou, was not satisfied with Bouteflika's announcement.
"What he's writing is what we've already rejected, he's treating us like fools," Liasmine said.
On March 3, after his campaign director submitted his candidacy, Bouteflika tried to appease the protesters by proposing to hold a national dialogue conference, amend the constitution and hold a vote within a few days. a year, during which he swore not to show up, but then changed. his mind.
"We want the current regime to collapse," Liasmine told Al Jazeera. "I do not trust the old guard to oversee a democratic and independent transition and they will take advantage of this conference to find ways to stay in power."
"Division strategy"
The protesters stated that Bouteflika did not intend to leave office immediately and that he was "illegally" extending his fourth term.
"Algeria is becoming a monarchy against the will of the people," said Sabeha, who took part in protests in Algiers Monday at Al Jazeera.
"We are dealing with a president so in a hurry to stay in power that he will remain in place until an unknown date," added the 30-year-old director.
Abderrahmane, 25, criticized Bouteflika's decision to cancel the election without announcing a new date. "Once again, it disrespects and violates the constitutional law," said the activist.
Many protesters view Bouteflika's decision as a maneuver aimed at stifling the protests and maintaining the status quo, at least temporarily.
"It's a strategy to divide us, we should not stop now.We must continue to fight against his power and the regime," said Liasmine, who plans to take part in new protests on Friday.
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