ALGIERS, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– Algeria’s parliament is set to meet
Tuesday to name an interim successor to president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, state media reported, after mass protests pushed the ailing leader from power.
“It was decided to hold a meeting of the two chambers of parliament on
Tuesday… at 9:00 am (0800 GMT),” the upper house of parliament said
Saturday in a statement carried by the official APS news agency.
Algeria’s constitution stipulates that the speaker of the upper house of
parliament, currently 77-year-old Abdelkader Bensalah, should take the
presidential reins.
He is to serve for up to 90 days, during which a presidential election must
be organised.
The lawmakers are expected to finalise the “vacancy of the post of
president… and then designate Abdelkader Bensalah as head of state”, said
communications head for the upper house of parliament Salim Rabahi.
Faced with massive street protests across the North African country,
veteran leader Bouteflika ceded power earlier this week after two decades in power.
The 82-year-old had come under mounting pressure to step down over his
decision to seek a fifth term despite rarely being seen in public after
suffering a stroke in 2013.
Algerians took to the streets across the country Friday in a continued push
for sweeping reform, calling out Boutleflika regime stalwarts who have been entrusted with overseeing the political transition.
The are targeting a triumvirate they dub “3B” — Abdelakder Bensalah, head
of the constitution council Tayeb Belaiz, and Prime Minister Noureddine
Bedoui.
Critics say all three have always been faithful Bouteflika servants, who
should follow his lead and resign.
Protesters are calling for transitional institutions to be set up to
implement reforms and guarantee free elections. — NNN-AGENCIES
