Well-known opposition politician and former Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis has said it is necessary to comply with the demands put forward during popular protests, which have continued for nearly two months now, the Algerie Presse Service news agency reported.
“The most important thing today is to preserve the nation state and comply with the demands of participants in the popular protests who want changes,” Benflis stressed, adding that “unconstitutional forces are working to prevent these requirements from being implemented.”
According to the former prime minister, “the current Constitution does not allow to find a quick solution to the political crisis.” He also noted that there was “no independent body to exercise control over the presidential election scheduled for July 4.” “Our stance coincides with the Algerian people’s stance who reject this election,” he pointed out.
Algeria has been rocked by mass protests since February 22. At first, the public was demanding that Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika step down. Following Bouteflika’s exit on April 2, they are now calling for an early resignation of interim President Abdelkader Bensalah, Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, President of the Constitutional Council Tayeb Belaiz and the leaders of the National Liberation Front party.