Algerian Council Calls Off July 4 Presidential Election

Algeria’s constitutional council has concluded it will not be possible to hold presidential elections on July 4, citing a lack of valid candidates, and did not set a new date, state TV reported on Sunday. The report did not clarify why the candidates were deemed invalid. Algeria’s political leadership has been in limbo since the resignation of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the beginning of April, ending his 20-year rule. The ailing 82-year-old stepped down following months of mass protests against what demonstrators deemed to be a corrupt regime that has governed the North African country since independence from France in 1962. However, the rallying cry has since called for the introduction of political reforms and the removal of the entire ruling elite, especially the resignations of interim president Abdelkader Bensalah as well as Prime Minister Nouredinne Bedoui, as protesters are skeptical that they can oversee a legitimate vote. Bensalah was chosen to replace Bouteflika for 90 days to monitor the July 4 presidential election. Algeria’s army chief, Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah, who helped precipitate Bouteflika’s departure, had urged protesters to accept the July elections to prevent a “constitutional void.”