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Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in November 2017 during a rare public appearance after a stroke. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP / File)
Tens of thousands of Algerian protesters have rejected President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's promise not to run for a fifth term – but what are the chances of those in power?
Bouteflika proposed a "national conference" to carry out reforms before election planning, which means he will remain in power until a vote is held.
What do the protesters want?
Huge crowds marched in the Algerian capital for the fourth consecutive time on March 15, calling for the resignation of Bouteflika. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP) On 22 February, Algerians took to the streets to protest against Bouteflika 's decision to run again, but the ruffian has rarely been seen in public since the 2013 attack.
The president announced Monday that he would withdraw his candidacy but angered the protesters by extending de facto his fourth term for an indefinite period.
Accusing 82-year-old Bouteflika with "tricks" to stay in power after his term ended, protesters gathered again Friday to demand the resignation of their president after two decades in office.
The mobilization was described as historic, with more Algerians participating in the demonstrations than the previous week, while the participation was estimated at tens of thousands.
What is the official answer?
The unpopular Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia, was replaced by the former Minister of the Interior, Noureddine Bedoui (C). This decision failed to convince many protesters. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP) As part of the measures announced Monday, Bouteflika ordered a reshuffle of the government and replaced the unpopular Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia, by the former Interior Minister, Noureddine Bedoui.
Although the suppression of Ouyahia has satisfied some, the promotion of Bedoui – who as Minister of the Interior had overseen the strict prohibition of demonstrations in Algiers – had failed to convince all the protesters.
The new prime minister has promised to integrate technocrats, including "young experts, men and women" into the government.
Finding technocrats willing to join a highly despised administration, which Bedoui promised would be short-lived, could, however, prove difficult.
Algerians want "a radical change, not a change of puppets," said Friday a protest panel.
The central demand of the protesters remained the same: the end of Bouteflika's regime, as well as that of his entourage and the political system put in place.
Will the demonstrations decrease?
Algerians celebrated in the streets after Bouteflika announced that he would not run for a fifth term. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP / File) Since the rallies began, the authorities seem to have played on waiting. But nothing indicates that protesters are out of breath.
Algerians were traumatized by the civil war from 1992 to 2002 and officials capitalized on their fears, saying the regime was the only protection against the return to chaos.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, represented here in 1973, served as Algerian Foreign Minister for over a decade. By – (AFP / File) Although this has long prevented people from taking to the streets, the ongoing demonstrations show that they are fighting the almighty state.
Algerians of all ages have created a festive atmosphere during rallies, defying the ban on demonstrations in the capital to wield the flag of their country.
Some protesters fear that the fatigue that accompanies the holy month of Ramadan, which begins in early May, may slow down their movement.
Will there be violent repression?
The violent crackdown on protests is unlikely, as the police seemed overwhelmed by such a crowd.
The protests have been largely peaceful and no incidents have been reported in the provinces in the last three weeks.
In Algiers, there were clashes at the end of every Friday demonstration, during which young people threw stones at the police.
Such incidents are particularly rare given the scale of the demonstrations and the Algiers volunteers cleaned up the streets following the demonstrations.
Nothing indicates for the moment that the authorities will seek to put a violent end to the demonstrations, especially given the global attention paid to Algeria.
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