Algeria’s Constitutional Council: July elections impossible
Algeria’s constitutional council has concluded it
will not be possible to hold presidential elections on July 4 as planned, state
TV reported on Sunday, prolonging the country's transition after President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned two months ago.
The constitutional council cited a lack of valid
candidates, saying it had received only two candidates, who were deemed invalid.
The vote was meant to elect a new president after
Bouteflika ended his 20-year rule in the wake of mass protests calling for
wider political reforms.
Demonstrations have continued, demanding an end to
the dominance of the elite who have ruled since the country won independence
from France in 1962.
The council did not set a new date for the
presidential elections, asking interim President Abdelkader Bensalah to
organize a vote at a later date, state television said.
Bensalah had been appointed as interim leader until
July 9.
Protesters have called for his removal and that of
Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who was appointed by Bouteflika days before
he stepped down.
