Algerian military commander Ahmed Gaid Salah on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for interim President Abdelkader Bensalah, whose term ends on July 9 but will remain head of state in the absence of elections.
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Presidential elections scheduled for early July were canceled, effectively extending Bensala’s presidential term indefinitely.
On July 4, Bensala proposed a “neutral” national dialogue without state or military involvement.
In a speech at an official ceremony, Prime Minister Salah said the head of state’s call was a “rational and prudent approach” to “bring the country out of crisis”.
“While we encourage and support its content, we consider his approach an important step towards a proper solution to this crisis,” he added.
Bensala’s proposals did not calm the protesters. It continues to demand the departure of members of the old guard that has ruled the oil and gas exporter since independence from France in 1962.
Algeria has been in the grip of political upheaval since mass protests in early April forced the resignation of ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after 20 years in power.
Salah reiterated the military’s desire for presidential elections to be held “as soon as possible” and referred to one of the slogans of the protests, depicting Algeria as no longer a “civilian state”. warned against.
Since Bouteflika’s departure, military commanders have emerged as key power brokers.
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Meanwhile, the country’s Supreme Court on Wednesday detained former industry minister Youssef Yousufi on corruption charges, state television reported.
Yusufi is the latest official to be detained in an anti-corruption investigation since protests erupted earlier this year with demonstrators calling for the prosecution of those deemed corrupt and the removal of long-term ruling elites.
State television reported that Yusufi, who served as industry minister from August 2017 to March 2019, is accused of “wasting public funds and granting illegal privileges,” but details are unclear. I didn’t.
(France 24 News Agency, AFP News Agency, Reuters News Agency)
