ALGERIA REFERENDUM:
A vote ‘to end years of deviousness’
ALGERIANS are voting in a referendum that is meant to cement changes made possible after long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced to resign last year.
But opponents say it falls short of fundamental reform.
The referendum’s timing is auspicious. It falls on 1 November - the anniversary of the start of Algeria’s war of independence against France back in 1954, a date today’s government chose for its symbolism.
It also comes though as Algeria’s president has been flown to Germany for medical care.
The cause of his ill health has not been disclosed, but President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had self-isolated and spent time in a military hospital in Algiers after a number of his aides and colleagues contracted coronavirus. Algerians are voting on presidential term limits and creating a new anti-corruption body.
To win the referendum, either the “yes” or “no” camp needs at least 51% of the vote. Results are to be announced on Monday. President Tebboune, 74, came to power last year in a controversial election that followed the departure of Mr Bouteflika, who resigned in the face of massive popular protests against his bid for a fifth term in office.
Mr Tebboune’s election campaign saw him vow to “lay the foundations of a new Algeria”.
He pledged an end to what he calls the practices of the “gang” of politicians and businessmen in President Bouteflika’s inner circle. Ultimately this new government is answerable to the demands of the huge popular movement, or Hirak, to reform the political system. And doing this has required redrafting Algeria’s constitution.
Algeria will go back to allowing its presidents a maximum of two terms in office, if the constitutional amendments are approved in Sunday’s referendum.
The law had been changed under
President Bouteflika in 2008 so he could run for a third term in power.
MPs would also serve for a maximum of two terms.