Algeria: Bouteflika's farewell on Rates

Algeria's President Bouteflika will not compete again. But: He is still in office. Everything else is uncertain. A former UN Diplomat could in the future play a greater role.

Jens Borchers, ARD Studio in North-West Africa

what was all last night in the streets of Algiers. The people gathered, discussed, celebrated by some, to listen to the small Hupkonzerte. But The reactions to Bouteflika's waiver of a new candidate remained behavior, suspicious.

elections for the time being,

moved "Certainly, the Algerians have won something today," said a young woman by the name of Tannin. "The demonstrations, the fear of you has changed something. But we have now won a battle, the war. The System is still there!"

While protesters such as Tannin in microphones to speak, the power of written statements. The state television broadcasts images of Bouteflika, allegedly made shortly after the publication of the communiqué. No Interviews, no opportunity to ask questions. The Regime announced that the election is postponed, Bouteflika remains President and former Minister of the interior to form a new government.

The Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, intends to forgo a new candidacy for his office.

"The President's power over the people funny"

Abdelaziz Rahabi, once Bouteflika's government spokesman and now a committed adversary of the President, commented on Twitter: "The President's power over the people funny, he ignored the claims, and extended the mandate through April."

criticism also came from other members of the opposition. You doubt that the actions of the regime is compliant with the Constitution. The extension of the Mandate for the President is only in the event of war, said a member of the Patel RCD.

In the "message to the Nation" that was yesterday evening on behalf of Bouteflika's state news Agency spread, had confessed not a word about the legal basis for the extension of the Mandate.