Algeria army chief says ‘certain parties’ seeking constitutional vacuum June 18, 2019 at 8:12 pm | Published in: Africa , Algeria , News Algeria’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Defence Minister, Ahmed Gaid Salah [Johnny Bivera/Wikipedia] June 18, 2019 at 8:12 pm Algeria’s army chief of staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah on Tuesday accused some parties of favouring a constitutional vacuum in order to prolong the country’s political crisis, reports Reuters .
Veteran leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down as president on April 2 following two months of mass protests that demanded democratic reforms and the prosecution of people viewed by the demonstrators as corrupt.
But the demonstrations have continued, seeking the removal of the whole ruling elite that has governed the North African nation since independence from France in 1962 .
“Certain parties want to enter a dark tunnel called ‘constitutional vacuum’,” a defence ministry statement Quote: d Gaid Salah as saying at a military base in the southwestern province of Bechar.
“This means the destruction of the foundations of the Algerian national state.”
Protesters are also now demanding the resignation of interim president Abdelkader Bensalah, a former head of the upper house of parliament, whom they see as a close ally of Bouteflika.
The authorities have postponed a presidential election previously planned for July 4 citing a lack of candidates. No new date for the vote has been set.
READ: Algerian council scraps July 4 presidential election
The army is now the main player in Algeria’s politics, and Gaid Salah has called for dialogue to prepare for elections and pave the way for a new president to start the reforms demanded by protesters.
Gaid Salah has vowed to help bring to justice people suspected of involvement in corruption cases.
A court in Algiers on Monday ordered the detention of Mourad Eulmi , head of family-owned firm SOVAC, a partner of Germany’s Volkswagen AG, over suspected corruption. Eulmi has not commented on the allegations against him. VW has also not commented on the allegations against its Algerian partner.
Other prominent businessmen have been jailed in Algiers pending the completion of corruption inquiries.
Categories Africa Algeria News Show Comments
