Hundreds of robed lawyers gathered in downtown Algiers on Thursday to protest 82 year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's intention to seek his fifth consecutive term in April's presidential election, local media reported
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th March, 2019) Hundreds of robed lawyers gathered in downtown Algiers on Thursday to protest 82 year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's intention to seek his fifth consecutive term in April's presidential election, local media reported.The lawyers gathered in front of the building that houses the country's Constitutional Council, responsible for approving presidential candidates, and sent several representatives inside to hand over a statement on the part of the protesters, El Khabar newspaper reported.
Lawyers insist that Bouteflika was registered as a presidential candidate in violation of existing norms because he had not filed his documents in person.
Sky news Arabia broadcaster reported, citing the head of the local branch of the lawyers' labor union, who was among those sent to deliver the document, that the Constitutional Council refused to accept the statement.
"The call to postpone elections remains in the past, now we demand to call off the election," Louisa Hanoune, the leader of the Workers' Party said, as quote by the broadcaster.
The leader of the socialist party also has called on the Algerian People's National Armed Forces to remain neutral and ensure security in the country during the presidential election.
At the same time, the opposition urged the dismissal of Bouteflika and the Cabinet and the announcement of a transition period, the Al-Arabiya broadcaster reported.
Despite reports about Bouteflika's seriously deteriorated health and ongoing mass protests across the country, the president's supporters say that he will nonetheless run in the election scheduled for April 18. Bouteflika, however, said in a written statement that he would call early presidential vote if re-elected and promised that he would not run in it.
After suffering a stroke in 2013 and becoming confined to a wheelchair, the president barely speaks and has made very few public appearances.
