Hundreds of Thousands of Algerians Demonstrate Against Bouteflika Puppet Government

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets across Algeria on Friday, demanding the immediate resignation of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Conceding to protesters demands, the government last week reversed plans for Bouteflika to run for president for a fifth term, but delayed upcoming elections and said he would stay in office until a new constitution is adopted. The plans outraged many, who saw them as an effort by the government to continue to hold onto power.

Since suffering a stroke five years ago, 82 year old Bouteflika has rarely been seen in public. Most people think he is a puppet controlled by a network of ruling party leaders, generals and business tycoons.

Even when Bouteflika leaves office it is not clear what the protest movement will do when taking on the network that is ruling the country from behind Bouteflika.

 

 

Photo: “3η Σύνοδος Κορυφής Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης-Αφρικής / Συνάντηση με τον Πρόεδρο της Αλγερίας, Abdelaziz Bouteflika” by Αλέξης Τσίπρας Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0