Algerians protest Bouteflika’s 5th bid for presidency
81-year-old leader has announced intention to run in presidential election slated for April 18
By Abdul Razak bin Abdullah
ALGIERS
Hundreds of Algerians in the coastal city of Tichy demonstrated on Thursday against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s plan to run for a fifth term in office in polls slated for April, according to local media reports.
Video footage carried by local media outlets purported to show hundreds of young protesters marching through the streets of the coastal city, which is located in Algeria’s northern Bejaia province.
“No to a fifth term; yes for change,” protesters can be heard chanting in the footage. “No to this shameful election.”
Earlier this month, the 81-year-old Bouteflika announced plans to contest the April 18 poll, triggering a storm of criticism on Algerian social media.
Bouteflika has ruled Algeria since 1999.
Since 2013, when Bouteflika was treated for a brain blood clot, Abdelkader Bensaleh, the speaker of Algeria's upper house of parliament, has represented the president at several official events.
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