Huge protest in Algiers to demand changes in govt

Thousands of protesters took to the street of Algiers on Friday to demand changes in policies and the government. Supporters of the Hirak protest movement, that pushed out former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019 after 20 years in power went back to the streets after president Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced early parliamentary elections in June.

Activists are pressing for a full makeover of the opaque system governing Algeria, with the military in the shadows, which has been at the helm since the country won its independence war against France in 1962. Tebboune announced last month that he would dissolve parliament to open the way for a new batch of candidates from outside the power structure.

He also reshuffled the government and released around 30 detained activists, though dozens more remain jailed. On Thursday, he announced a date for the new legislative elections: June 12, instead of next year as originally scheduled. They will be followed by local elections for mayors and town councillors.

In another effort to satisfy protesters, Algeria’s government finalized a new electoral bill Sunday aimed at limiting corruption and giving voters more choice. The last legislative election, in 2017, was marred by financial scandals that eventually sent several top officials to prison.