President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
It’s likely a Game-up for Algeria’s Bouteflika
Algeria’s ailing long-time ruler, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is likely to be removed soon as both the country’s military and ruling coalition partner, the RND party, has added their voice urging Bouteflika’s ouster.
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The RND is chaired by former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia who’s a long-term supporter of Bouteflika said the RND was grateful to the 82-year old leader for his services to the country.
Bouteflika has rarely been seen in public for years due to health problems.
Mass protests against the president began a month ago when he announced his intention to stand for a fifth term.
Algeria’s army chief of staff, Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah, on national TV demanded that Bouteflika be declared unfit to rule after weeks of protests against him.
Salah said: “We must find a way out of this crisis immediately, within the constitutional framework.”
The president has already agreed not to stand for a fifth term in upcoming elections, which have been delayed.
Demonstrators accuse the 82-year-old of a ploy to prolong his 20-year rule.
But people have continued to march even after he agreed not to stand, instead demanding immediate change.
Lt Gen Gaed Salah – who is also deputy defence minister and seen as loyal to Bouteflika – has previously said the military and the people had a united vision of the future, hinting at the armed forces’ support for the demonstrators.
Lt Gen Gaed Salah said the constitution was “the only guarantee to preserve a stable political situation”, and called for the use of Article 102, which allows the Constitutional Council to declare the position of president vacant if the leader is unfit to rule.
“This solution achieves consensus and must be accepted by all,” he said to the applause of officers watching the speech.
Under the constitution, the head of the Senate, Abdelkhader Bansallah, would become the acting head of state until an election could be held.
Reports suggest the Constitutional Council is now holding a special meeting after the speech.
The dramatic intervention by the armed forces chief of staff is the latest development after weeks of sustained protest in Algeria.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia announced his resignation and was replaced by Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui.