Algerian President will not run for fifth term, postpones elections

Muscat: Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika has announced that he will not run for a fifth term as president of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.

The president has also announced that there will be changes to the government’s makeup and that the next presidential election will be postponed from the 18th of April will be organised after a national symposium is held and an independent election committee is formed.

Bouteflika has also appointed Noureddine Badawi as the new prime minister as successor to Ahmed Ouyahia who had resigned on the 11th of March.

In a message to the Algerian people, the president said, “First: There is no place for a fifth term, and I never planned on running for such a position as my condition and age only allow me to carry this final duty for the Algerian people, which is to work on laying the foundations for a new republic that will be a framework for the Algerian system which we aspire to achieve.

“Second: There will be no presidential elections on the coming 18th of the coming April. The reason for this is to answer your urgent call to me...the delay in the presidential election comes to soothe fears and allow time for tranquility to reign.

“Third: I have decided to make large changes to the government’s makeup as soon as possible. These changes will be a suitable answer to your demands.

“Fourth: The National Independent Symposium will be an authority given all the powers needed to study, prepare, and approve all reforms that will serve as the foundation for the new system which will launch our nation...the constitution prepared by the symposium will be handed over to a people’s referendum...The symposium will have the full authority to decide the dates of the next election, for which I will not be running.

“Fifth: The presidential election will be organised under the exclusive supervision of a national independent election committee formed by special legistlation drafted using the best international practices.

“Sixth: A government of national capabilities will be formed, supported by the national symposium. This government will oversee administrative duties and security, and will support the independent election committee.

“Seventh: I swear to spare no effort in filling the country’s institutions and frameworks in order to make this plan of action a success.”