Thousands of Algerian protesters are angry with another president, the interim leader Abdelkader Bensalah was rejected by people, AFP reported.
Abdelkader Bensalah became an interim Algeria’s president on Tuesday after the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. despite the change of the national leader, the protesters are still angry and demanding radical change. In fact, the 77-year-old Bensalah is a long-time ally of Mr Bouteflika, so, people express their disappointment with decades of domination by the ailing leader’s inner circle.
Abdelkader Bensalah served as the upper house chairman, under Algeria’s constitution, he is the only person who could be the interim leader in case of stepping-down of the elected President. However, thousands of Algerians oppose him because he is part of a ruling caste that has dominated Algeria since independence from France in 1962.
The strongest anti-Bensalah protests are growing in central Algiers, the media reported. According to the experts, appointing Bensalah will fuel anger and it could radicalise the protesters. Taking into account the instability in other African states like Lybia and Sudan, Algeria is in a very difficult position.
Meanwhile, the powerful military will react to Bensalah’s appointment and any opposition that arises. “I thank the army and all security services for their work,” the interim president said.
Algerians want another president, again
Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gaid Salah has expressed support for protesters, who want to remove all remnants of a system that has catered to governing party figures, the army, big businessmen and union leaders who helped Bouteflika stay in power for 20 years.
Being left his post, Mr Bouteflika promised that elections would be held after 90 days as part of a transition he said would usher in a new era. Till then, Mr Bensalah remains interim president until new elections are held, according to Algeria’s constitution.
“We must work to allow the Algerian people to elect their president as soon as possible,” Bensalah told parliament on Tuesday.
Although the 82-year-old’s resignation was celebrated by protesters, they have remained firm in pushing for a wider overhaul of the political system. Human Rights Watch said Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s departure is “at most a first step in ending autocratic rule.”
