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Algeria today holds presidential elections under unprecedented popular pressure. The citizen movement that has put the regime in check since a wave of protests broke out on February 22 rejects the holding of these elections and, in recent days, has intensified the marches demanding their annulment. Meanwhile, the Algerian authorities are, for the first time in 60 years, in the dilemma of organizing a transparent and credible vote, without a trace of fraud, to give way to a political transition.

"For the first time there is no favorite candidate. They are all the same," says Abdelatif Milad, vice president of the Independent National Electoral Authority (NSAID), the body created last September to ensure the cleanliness of the elections. For 20 years, Algerians have seen how, election after election, Abdelaziz Buteflika won with percentages that exceeded 80% (in 2009, with 90.2%). It even happened in 2014, when Buteflika was already very sick.

The strong feeling of humiliation that seized the citizenship when Buteflika announced that he would again be a candidate for a fifth presidential term, in the planned elections of April 2019, gave way to a popular revolt that ended his Presidency and initiated the dismantling of His clan of power. The pulse of the street also managed to postpone the elections of July 4, to which no candidates were presented. That is why now the nervousness is maximum so that the appointment with the polls of today is celebrated without incident.

The shadow of the announced boycott jeopardizes the legitimacy of this appointment with the polls, considered by the 'Hirak' (as the popular movement is known) as a means of regeneration. The authorities insist that the vote will serve to articulate the transformation of the system. It even points to the possibility of a second round, something unprecedented in contemporary Algeria. "We have never had a second round, but there is a 90% chance that this time it will be held. For the first time in Algeria, nobody knows the name of the president. The five candidates have the same opportunity to be elected," says Milad.

Five are the candidates to occupy the palace of El Muradia, the seat of the Presidency, and leave the Buteflika era behind. Although they are old familiar faces, since they all served as heads of government or ministers during their presidency. Among them is Ali Benflis, 75. He was prime minister between 2000 and 2003 and presidential candidate in 2004 and 2014. Abdelmayid Tebune, 73, was also chief executive in 2017, although it only lasted three months by succumbing to a clan fight. Today he defines himself as an "independent" candidate, although he has always been linked to Buteflika. Azedin Mihubi, 60, has been running the Democratic National Regrouping (RND) for a few months, the sister party of the official National Liberation Front (FLN) and supporter of the Buteflika Presidency. The Islamist Abdelkader Bengrina, 57, served as Minister of Tourism between 1997 and 1999. And Abdelaziz Belaid, with 56 years the youngest of the candidates, is also a veteran FLN cadre.

The tension accumulated during all these months was felt yesterday in the streets of the capital, Algiers, where thousands of people demonstrated to show their rejection of the appointment with the polls. 'Makanch le vote' (No to the elections), the activists shouted marching down Didouche Mourad Avenue, the main artery of Algiers, recording the demonstrations with their mobiles. The riot police had split the march in two and ruled before the protesters while the blades of an aerial surveillance helicopter resounded in the sky. 'La lil issaba' (No to the band), the young people sang in songs already erected as the revolutionary soundtrack. It is with this denomination, 'the band', as they refer to those who have governed them for decades.

He has not even placated the wrath of the 'Hirak' condemns the eve of two former prime ministers of Buteflika. Ahmed Uyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal were sentenced Tuesday to 15 and 12 years in prison and to pay one million dinars each in a macro trial for a network of state corruption that involves several former senior leaders of the regime and businessmen in the automobile sector. In the same process, the former Minister of Industry and brief secretary general FLN (who has ruled Algeria as a single party from 1962 until the late 1990s), Abdeslam Buchareb, received 20 years in jail. Other former senior officials and businessmen have been sentenced between 10 and three years.

There is an atmosphere in which the climate of account adjustment is mixed with the so-called 'Buteflika clan' with the 'clean hands' policy that the current strongman of the country, General Ahmed Gaid Salah, has launched. On September 25, in a trial that lasted just 48 hours, President Buteflika's brother, Said (for many, true 'rais' in the shadow) and the dreaded generals Mohamed Mediene and Athmane Tartag (chiefs of services) were convicted of information), in addition to the opposition Luisa Hanun to 15 years in prison for "plot against the State".

But the 'Hirak' sees no stranger to 'the band' to the five candidates who are present today for the presidential elections. "The 'issaba' proposes five wolves," the protesters say in reference to the aspirants. "There will not be two without three. On April 18 it was annulled, on July 4 it was annulled and on December 12 it will also be annulled," they claim.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • Abdelaziz Buteflika

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