Algerian Army Commander Calls for Declaration of Bouteflika's Inability to Govern

On Tuesday, April 6, the commander of the Algerian army called for the implementation of a constitutional article to remove Abdelaziz Bouteflika from the presidency. According to Reuters, Ahmed Gaid Salah, the Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army, in a televised speech, urged national unity to end the tensions in the country. Following Bouteflika's retreat, protesters in Algeria demanded swift changes. Last week, after several weeks of protests against Bouteflika's candidacy for re-election, he announced his withdrawal from the election but stated he would not resign and would remain in power until a new constitution is drafted. The Chief of Staff stated that the solution to the current situation is the implementation of Article 102 of the constitution with the support of all groups and factions. Article 102 pertains to the president's inability to govern and requires a two-thirds majority from both houses of parliament to be enacted. Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 and has rarely been seen in public since then. The next step after declaring Bouteflika's inability will be for Abdelkader Bensalah, the President of the Senate, to be appointed as the interim president for 45 days, a period that can be extended. Following widespread protests, Bouteflika, who was receiving treatment in Geneva, returned to the country. After withdrawing from the presidential race, he appointed a new prime minister. Noureddine Bedoui, the new prime minister of Algeria, stated last week that a new government composed of technocrats and others would be formed to move towards a political transition and called on protesters to join these discussions. However, opponents argue that the game is over, and Bouteflika has no option but to resign. Algeria is a major oil and gas exporter, but so far, these exports have not been affected by the recent month-long unrest. Many Algerians say that the president and other veteran politicians from the independence war era have ignored the people's demands for decades. Reuters notes that the Algerian armed forces, which usually play a significant behind-the-scenes role in the country's politics, are expected to maintain their power in all potential scenarios for Algeria's future. Algeria was not influenced by the political movements of 2011 known as the 'Arab Spring.' Bouteflika and his allies, skilled at controlling and diverting protest movements, managed to keep the country calm by allocating part of the oil revenue to public needs, including low-interest loans and housing. According to Reuters, Bouteflika and his politicians played a significant role in suppressing Islamist group rebellions in the 1990s, during which tens of thousands were killed, and many Algerians, especially older generations, accepted government repression as the price for peace and stability in the country.