Protesters Increase Pressure on Algerian Gov’t Ahead of December Election

Protesters took to the streets in Algiers on Wednesday night, demanding cancellation of the upcoming presidential election until sweeping reforms are enacted. This came one day after a court sentenced four protesters to 18 months in prison for disrupting an election event on Sunday. The country has seen Tuesday and Friday protests regularly since February, but Wednesday’s demonstration was an indication that the protesters were stepping up pressure on the government. The demonstrations began when then-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced his intention to run for a fifth term. The election was originally scheduled for July. Protesters demanded that Bouteflika and the entire ruling elite step aside. After the military withdrew its support for Bouteflika, he resigned. Many senior officials, political allies and powerful supporters of Bouteflika were arrested on corruption charges, and the election was postponed until December 12. But protesters don’t want any election until the entire ruling elite is removed from power. The five candidates for president are all former senior officials.