A police officer directs traffic while demonstrators carry signs as teachers and students take part in a protest demanding immediate political change in Algiers, Algeria. The signs read: ‘We want change, we don’t want restoration’ and ‘No Washington, No Paris, we appoint the President’ and ‘Resistance, resistance, we reject the system’. — Reuters photo
ALGERIA’S new prime minister said Thursday he would form a temporary government of technocrats and others to work towards political change in response to weeks of street protests, and he urged the opposition to join in a dialogue.
Noureddine Bedoui
Noureddine Bedoui laid out his plans at a news conference in Algiers three days after ailing President Abelaziz Bouteflika announced his decision not to run for a fifth term that would have extended his 20 years in power.
Bouteflika’s offer came after tens of thousands of Algerians staged demonstrations demanding an overhaul of a stagnant political system dominated by veterans of the 1954-62 war of independence.
However, he stopped short of stepping down and many activists fear his move may be a ruse.
Bedoui, who replaced Ahmed Ouyahia on Monday, said the new government would be formed early next week and would rule for “a short period of time”.
It would be technocratic but also include young Algerians involved in the protest movement, including women, he said.
An independent commission will oversee the next presidential election, he said.
The prime minister urged the opposition to accept dialogue.
But lawyers and activists who protesters have chosen to lead the drive for reforms are in no mood to compromise and have said they will not negotiate, at least for now.
The government on Wednesday declared itself ready for talks, saying it sought a ruling system based on “the will of the people” after opposition groups rejected proposed reforms as inadequate.
Bouteflika, who has not been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, promised on Monday to work for a new era that would cater to all Algerians.
But the initiative by the veteran revolutionary, who also delayed elections set for April and said a conference would be held to discuss political change, has failed to satisfy many Algerians who want power to move to a younger generation with fresh ideas.
Tens of thousands of people from all social classes have demonstrated over the last three weeks against corruption, unemployment and the ruling class. — Reuters