Algeria: Abdelmadjid Tebboune wins presidential polls

By Abdel-Raziq bin Abduallah

ALGIERS (AA) - Abdelmadjid Tebboune has won the presidential election in Algeria, the country's election authority said Friday.

In a landslide victory, Tebboune secured 58.15% of the votes, said Mohammed Sharfi, head of the Algerian Electoral Authority, in a news conference in the capital Algiers.

Tebboune, 74, served only for 81 days as prime minister before being removed in August 2017.

Former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced to resign last April following nationwide protests, sacked Tebboune for his attempt to take measures against corrupt business people loyal to the regime.

Born on Nov. 17 in the eastern Naama province, he studied at the National School of Administration and graduated with a degree in economics and finance in 1969.

Tebboune held several ministerial positions, including the portfolios of culture and communication in 1999 and housing and urban affairs between 2000 and 2001.

He was appointed in different administrative positions and served three times as mayor of Tiaret, Adrar, and Tizi Ouzou provinces between 1984 and 1991.

Regarded by many as one of the symbols of the Bouteflika regime, Tebboune said during his electoral campaign that his political program will meet the demands of protesters.