TUNIS — Thousands of Algerians returned to the streets on Friday, June 7, buoyed by the decision of the Constitutional Council to cancel presidential elections scheduled for July 4. A new date has not, however, been set.
This latest concession to the Algerian street has provided further impetus to the popular protests that have rocked the country’s political class. With the postponement announced June 2, Algeria’s elite has essentially positioned itself beyond the reach of the constitution it has clung to throughout the unrest, which began in mid-February. Moreover, by doing so it appears to lend additional credence to protesters’ calls for a new electoral committee to oversee a fresh vote.
