The people can no longer be put off

It was the sixth Protest Friday was in a row, and again more people went on the street than in the weeks previously. Alone in the capital, Algiers, there were more than a Million demonstrators.

Algeria is not alone, even if, in the meantime, the military and the ruling National liberation front (FLN) to distance himself from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his deposition in accordance with article 102 of the Constitution have come up with. This is to remove the President due to prolonged and severe illness of the office. Since his stroke in 2013, the Opposition calls to overthrow Bouteflika and reforms.

Ironically, the powerful chief of General staff Ahmed Gaïd Salah (79) staff, Bouteflika's Deputy defence Minister, and his longtime Confidant, is now discussed. The FLN, Bouteflika, to for the 18. April had set up a scheduled presidential election, joined the claim as well as the coalition partners, RND and its chief Ahmed Ouyahia. He had served Bouteflika faithful as Premier, to him, the President of the 12. March abberief.

Creeping coup

The parties in government, Bouteflika, have supported despite his failing health for more than five years, now claim for themselves, the dangers for Algeria to turn away. "We would like to thank Abdelaziz Bouteflika for everything he has done for the country," said Ouyahia. It is now important to prevent all of the speculation about the government in this sensitive Phase. Army chief Salah said in front of officers, the removal, in accordance with article 102 "in accordance with the legitimate aspirations of the people" and will be "by mutual agreement and all parties will be accepted".

can, however, be no question. Important representatives of the protest movement and the opposition parties show themselves suspicious. The lawyer and human rights activist, Mustapha Bouchachi is considered to be one of the leaders of the protesters. He says that the people demanded, "men and women who were not involved in the past 20 years to lead the country". He called for a transitional government, which should deeply initiate radical reforms.

Kamel Daoud, one of the most important writers and Intellectuals of the country, criticized the Regime for years, said the military had found a "legalistic" solution. He goes so far as other members of the opposition, the military a creeping coup to be. However, he also sees in the maneuver, an attempt by the opaque ruling Clique made up of representatives of military and intelligence, economic bosses and party officials to maintain their Power. "Algeria's Problem is that we don't have a Bouteflika, but 25."

Not a promising against a candidate

Should come with article 102 to the application, would be only a relatively short phase of Transition, the Constitution, as well as the actual power relations remained probably largely unchanged. Observers warn, therefore, there is the risk that an early election will serve only to "legality and legitimacy" of the existing police state to restore.

If the twelve members of the constitutional Council, headed by a friend and Familiar Bouteflika, the President declared amtsunfähig, would have to confirm both chambers of the Parliament with a two-thirds majority. Then the President of the national Council would take over on an interim basis the transactions of the heads of state. The Regime might be able to agree on a successor to Bouteflika, the fragmented and weak Opposition but is hardly a view towards the candidates.

army pulls the strings

Bouteflika had given in to the pressure of the street and his fifth candidacy withdrawn. At the same time, he postponed the presidential election for an indefinite period of time. A national conference under the leadership of former foreign Minister and UN diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi (85) should revise the end of the year, the Constitution and the people in a Referendum. Then presidential elections should be held. But had the protesters not to appease.

Now the army is once more the decisive factor in the country. Chief of staff Gaïd Salah reiterated warnings that the army will not allow Chaos. There are forces trying to destabilize Algeria. The nervousness is increasing, at the weekend, the police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets, but the protesters will not be intimidated. Kamel Daoud says: "We want an end to the regime, but not the end of the state." This is the bitter lesson, which have drawn the Algerians from the failed revolutions of the Arab spring of 2011.

The Algerian Regime is trying to keep up with all the sleight from the manual of the autocrats in Power. Only the sick President Abdelaziz Bouteflika offered, he would assign a year after re-election. Then he withdrew his candidacy to extend his tenure for an indefinite period of time. Now the military and the ruling National liberation want to settle front for the 82-Year-old, they had until recently supported.

nervous

It is not surprising that none of it is caught, and every Friday, more Algerians in the streets flock to the capital, but also in almost all provinces. People don't want to settle for castlings in the opaque apparatus of power. The young population calls for genuine reforms, democracy, an end to corruption and kleptocracy. It is the reputation that echoed in 2011 in the Arab spring across the Region.

The protests have so far been largely peaceful, but the nervousness is on the rise. Still, the army remains in the barracks, but the police shoot tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons. And there are few signs that the army is ready to take back – to closely it is intertwined in Algeria with the policy. It also changes nothing that the military are now apparently willing to let the Bouteflika Clan to fall.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 31.03.2019, 23:42 Uhr