CAIRO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th March, 2019) Algerian trade unions and opposition parties have supported mass protests which have been rocking the country in the wake of the announcement of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 82, that he would seek the fifth term at the upcoming election.
The social democratic Socialist Forces Front, represented by 16 parliamentarians in the legislature, announced that it was recalling all its lawmakers from both houses of the Algerian parliament.
"The party will continue its peaceful fight for the establishment of the second republic � the rule-of-law and democracy state � via the election," the party said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the national organization of war veterans, supported the demonstrators, too, saying that the Algerian society "should go to the streets."
Moreover, the trade union of lawyers said he would suspend its work in courts as of Monday. Lawyers insist that regulations were violated when Bouteflika was registered as a presidential candidate since he had not filed his documents in person.
Media reported last week, that Bouteflika's health had sharply deteriorated and he was treated in a hospital in Geneva. The president's campaign manager, Abdelghani Zaalane, has, however, dismissed the claims, saying Bouteflika was in Switzerland for a regular medical examination.
The Algerian presidential election is scheduled for April 18. Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013 and has since been wheelchair-bound, has said in a written address that if re-elected, he would call snap vote and would not run in it in order to ensure the transition of power to a new president.
Despite that, the rallies against his re-election bid continue across Algeria.
