Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's presidential campaign has not yet officially submitted its candidacy until yesterday evening, amid protests in several regions that have called for his candidacy not to run.
Bouteflika sacked his campaign manager and former prime minister Abdelmalik Sallal yesterday and replaced him with current Transport Minister Abdelghani Za'alan. Al-Arabiya reported that the Algerian presidency would later announce important decisions and quoted Russian media as saying that Bouteflika was to undergo But his medical condition did not allow that, and Geneva University Hospital, where Bouteflika undergoes medical examinations, refused to confirm the reports of his deteriorating health, saying he had nothing to do with any information published in the media.
Bouteflika supporters rallied in Paris on Thursday in support of his fifth term, holding banners bearing his image and expressions of support. In contrast, dozens demonstrated near the Algerian consulate in Lyon in central France to protest Bouteflika's intention to run for a fifth term.
A few days ago, Bouteflika's campaign confirmed that he would submit his candidature for the presidency on the final days of the candidacy, but left the country last week for treatment. He had ended months of speculation about his candidacy by announcing on February 10 that he intended to run.
Thousands of people protested in Algiers on Sunday against Bouteflika's candidacy. The demonstrations took place peacefully, except for clashes between youths and policemen at the end of the capital's demonstration. According to police, 45 people were arrested during protests. , Reached 183 injured.
Algerian Interior Minister Noureddine Badawi confirmed the death of a demonstrator, Hassan Ben Khadah, during the marches. Salim, the brother of the deceased, blamed the authorities for the death of his brother, who was buried yesterday.
Two candidates nominated for the constitutional council have so far submitted their nominations to the constitutional council, Ali Zaghdoud, head of the Algerian Rally party, and Abdelkarim Hammadi, an independent, while Bouteflika's rival, Ali Benfellis, will be announced in 2004 and 2014.
Three other candidates announced the filing of their files yesterday, namely Belaid Abdulaziz of the Future Front, Abdul Qadir bin Qurena of the Construction Movement, and Mahdaf Mahfouz of the National Victory Party. Retired Major General Ali Ghadiri, who entered politics at the end of 2018, announced his candidacy but The Movement for a Peace Society, which withdrew from the presidential coalition in 2012, nominated its president Abdul Razzaq Mikri to vote. He announced yesterday that he does not rule out abandoning the candidacy and will make his final decision today.
The MP and member of the political bureau of the Algerian Labor Party, Ramzan Youssef Taazib, said yesterday that the party will not submit a candidate for the presidential election, and explained that, except for the abstention of two members, all the members of the Central Committee voted in favor of non-participation, adding: "It is the party's duty to take into account the current process In the country, there are millions of Algerians who demand the departure of this system, and these elections can not respond to this real aspiration for change ».