In Algeria, two candidacies filed for the presidential election

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Two bills to speed up elections in Algeria

The candidacies of Abdelhakim Hamadi and Hamid Touahri were received after the expiry of the deadline set on Saturday, May 25 at midnight, according to BBC Africa

The receipt of these two files beyond the time limit casts doubt on their admissibility. The Algerian national radio announced Sunday morning that “no candidates” had been filed before the deadline of Saturday night.

But the Constitutional Council declares in a statement that it “registered the filing of two applications”, those of Abdelhakim Hamadi and Hamid Touahri. According to the statement, the members of the Council will “rule on the validity of the two files”, in 10 days, the time given to them by the electoral law.

Abdelhakim Hamadi and Hamid Touahri are not known to the general public in Algeria. According to local media reports, Hamadi had already submitted an application for the election originally scheduled for 18 April.

The poll scheduled for July 4 is categorically rejected by the popular protest movement, which calls for the departure of the entire “system” that led the country for 20 years with Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

In Algeria, two candidacies filed for the presidential election — ©Getty/BBC – Acting President Abdelkader Bensalah

This movement rejects the holding of the presidential election as long as this claim is not satisfied. Seventy-seven applications had been withdrawn from the Ministry of the Interior in view of the ballot. But the collection of the 60,000 signatures required of each of the candidates for their sponsorship was made difficult by the refusal of demonstrators opposed to holding this election.

Two of the parties that had announced their intention to withdrew from the race. No major party in power or opposition nominated a candidate. Acting President Abdelkader Bensalah, appointed on 9 April, said he wanted to stick to the constitutional deadlines for the duration of his presidency.

A new head of state must be elected within 90 days after the start of the interim. Algeria has been shaken since February 22 by massive demonstrations triggered by the will of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to seek a fifth term. Bouteflika resigned on 2 April under pressure from the streets and the army.