By RFIPalled on 10-04-2019Modified on 10-04-2019 at 00:17

In a televised speech Tuesday evening, Abdelkader Bensalah, now officially acting president, announced that elections would be held in 90 days and that a commission charged with their organization would be set up.

Abdelkader Bensalah, who has just been appointed acting president by parliament, pledged Tuesday night to hold a " transparent and regular presidential election " within 90 days.

I, President of the Council of the Nation, take the office of Head of State for a period of up to 90 days. During this period, I am committed to you today to hold a presidential election.

Abdelkader Bensalah

10-04-2019 - By RFI

The Speaker of Parliament is now Acting Head of State. As such, his powers are very limited. One of his main missions is to organize a presidential election. He therefore has a period of 90 days, not one more, to call the Algerians to the polls. Of course, he does not have the right to run for this election.

In the meantime, the Algerian government and parliament remain in place. The acting president has neither the right to make a reshuffle nor the right to dissolve the National Assembly. It will also need the agreement of the elected representatives, deputies and senators gathered in the Parliament, if it wishes to declare the state of emergency for example.

Finally, there is no question of touching the Constitution. No reform can be made during this three-month period. Abdelkader Bensalah can not grant a pardon or call a referendum either.

Bensalah must clear, he is part of the gang that runs Algeria.

"Bensalah clears!"

10-04-2019 - By RFI

The accession of Bensalah at the head of the country will not calm the dispute. The 78-year-old man, head of the Senate for 17 years, is not a symbol of renewal and is close to Abdelaziz Bouteflika. It is already contested by the street, by civil society and by political parties. His taking office will not calm the street, and the army knows it. For the press as for the observers, the takeover of Abdelkader Bensalah aggravates the crisis.

But the army repeated that the solution must be constitutional, that only the respect of the legality would make it possible to leave the crisis. And it is this respect for the law that makes Abdelkader Bensalah now interim president.

Why this strategy? In the eyes of the military first, we need stability in a fragile regional context. Secondly, because in the eyes of the foreigner, respecting the Constitution is a difficult choice to criticize. Finally, because this solution allows the army to keep control of the future and save time to find another solution.

    On the same subject

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