Algerian interim president announces election on July 4

Algerian interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah, on Wednesday signed a decree to announce the election on July 4 to elect a new president for the North African nation, local media reported.

On Tuesday, Bensalah was named by the parliament as interim president to replace resigning Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

He pledged to organize presidential election within three months, given that the constitution stipulates that the interim president should run the country for a transition period of 90 days ahead of electing a new president.

The next step Bensalah is due to take is working on establishing an independent commission for monitoring the election, as he called on political parties to contribute to establishing this body to guarantee fair elections.

The appointment of Bensalah as interim president was proceeded through a joint session of the two houses of parliament, amid boycott of opposition and independent members of parliament.

(Top image: Algerian upper house chairman Abdelkader Bensalah is pictured after being appointed as interim president by Algeria's parliament, in Algiers, Algeria, April 9, 2019. /VCG Photo)

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)