Algeria’s government and protesters on track for collision
Algerian protesters are stepping up pressure against the ruling regime as the Dec. 12 elections near, with complete rejection of the candidates.
TUNIS, Tunisia — Demonstrators from across Algeria flooded the country’s streets Nov. 22, maintaining the pressure of the mass peaceful protest that began in February and has so far unseated one long-serving president, pushed back national elections and led to the arrest of scores of government ministers.
However, as protesters with the popular movement, or hirak as it has been termed, march on, so too do the plans of Algeria’s army and caretaker government to stage controversial presidential elections Dec. 12.
For the caretaker government of interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and his allies within the army, elections represent an opportunity to renew the mandate of the system that has preserved their rule for decades. For protesters, the prospect of new elections promises little but the continuance of the reign of the shadowy clan — or pouvoir — of businessmen, army officials, unionists and politicians they regard as having looted their country for generations.
In Algiers on Nov. 22, Algerians in their thousands marched, many wrapped within the national flag, chanting, “We are not interested in your vote.” One, Farid Djemai, told the news agency, Reuters, from his wheelchair, “We are determined to win in the struggle. We have reached the point of no return.”
