ALGIERS, Algeria, April 4 (NNN-APS) – Algeria’s Constitutional Council, on Wednesday, confirmed the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika from the presidency, one day after he decided to leave the post, following massive protests against his long-term leadership.
The 12-member Council, later in the day, will notify parliament of the vacancy of the presidency, in accordance with Article 102 of the Constitution.
Under Algeria’s constitution, Abdelkader Bensalah, speaker of the Council of the Nation and upper house of parliament, is due to take over as the interim leader for a transition period of up to 90 days, during which presidential elections must be held.
In a public farewell letter, shortly after the council’s confirmation, the 82-year-old Bouteflika said, he was proud of having led the nation for 20 years.
“I am leaving politics without sadness or fear for the country’s future,” the letter said.
Amid weeks-long nationwide demonstrations demanding his resignation, Bouteflika announced a new caretaker government, headed by Prime Minister, Noureddine Bedoui.
The cabinet list showed that, 21 of the country’s 27 ministers have been changed. Sabri Boukadoum, a former envoy to the United Nations, replaced Ramtane Lamamra as foreign minister. Central bank Governor, Mohamed Loukal, was named finance minister.
Algeria’s army chief, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who called for Bouteflika to be declared unfit for office on March 26, kept his post as vice defence minister.
Bouteflika had been in power since 1999. He has rarely been seen in public, since he suffered a stroke in 2013. His term had been due to end on April 28.
Anti-Bouteflika protesters staged protests across the North African country in late Feb, after Bouteflika said he would seek a fifth consecutive term in the April elections.
In a response to protests, the former president on March 11 said, he would not seek candidacy for the election and the vote would be postponed for an indefinite period.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said that, he “takes note” of Bouteflika’s resignation and “salutes the mature and calm nature in which the Algerian people have been expressing their desire for change.”
The UN chief “looks forward to a peaceful and democratic transition process, that reflects the wishes of the Algerian people,” his spokesman said, adding that, Guterres “reiterates the United Nations’ continued commitment to supporting Algeria in its process of democratic transition.”– NNN-APS
