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Algeria braced for fresh demonstrations Friday, the last in a series of weekly marches before a December 12 presidential election opposed by a protest movement that fears the vote will cement the hold on power of politicians close to the old guard.
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Voters called to the polls next Thursday will be choosing a successor to longtime strongman Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who ultimately relinquished the presidency in April when confronted by a wave of people power.
Protesters have marched on 42 consecutive Fridays to demand that Algerias next presidential election not entrench an elite linked to Bouteflika. But the five candidates seeking to replace him – former PM Abdelmadjid Tebboune, former PM Ali Benflis, former culture minister Azzedine Mihoubi, former tourism minister Abdelkader Bengrina and former El Mostakbal movement leader Abdelaziz Belaid – all either supported the former leader or participated in his government, and all have been the target of protesters hostility.
“What the protesters want is for these elections not to take place and the military government is saying, What we want is a strong turnout and when youve got those two positions face Read More – Source
