Algeria opposition announces plan to boycott elections

By Abbas Maymouni

ALGIERS (AA) – Algerian opposition groups on Tuesday announced plans to boycott upcoming presidential polls scheduled for July 4.

In a joint statement, several leading opposition parties -- including the Development and Justice Party, Al-Nahda and Al-Benaa al-Watani -- described the upcoming polls as “an attempt by the illegitimate authority to replicate itself through false elections”.

“The holding of elections with the same legal and regulatory framework will lead to the assumption of power by the same authorities that the people are now demanding step down,” the statement read.

Last Friday, hundreds of thousands of people staged demonstrations across Algeria to demand the departure of all government officials affiliated with former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Friday’s demonstrations came three days after Parliament Speaker Abdelkader Bensalah was sworn in as interim president vowing to hold “free and transparent” polls before the end of a 90-day transitional phase.