Algerian demonstrators on Friday rejected a call for dialogue by the country’s new president, insisting on a month-long protest movement’s demands for sweeping reforms in the North African country.
Huge crowds flooded the streets of Algiers on the 44th consecutive Friday of anti-government protests, a day after Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, an establishment insider, was sworn in following his victory in last week’s presidential election.
“It’s you or us. We will never stop,” protesters chanted.
“I don’t accept this president ... and I am against the dialogue that the ruling establishment is offering,” said Amar Alileche, a 66-year-old pensioner protesting against Tebboune. “Negotiations must lead to the departure of the old regime.”
Tebboune, 74, succeeds former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in April in the face of huge demonstrations after two decades in office.
A former prime minister who served under Bouteflika, Tebboune is seen as close to Algerian People’s National Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, reviled by protesters and the de facto strongman since Bouteflika quit.
Following his election, Tebboune invited the Hirak protest movement to engage in dialogue as well as vowing to appoint young ministers and push for a new constitution, but his comments were rejected by the protest movement.
He renewed his offer “to reach out to everyone” during his swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.
A new constitution would reduce the authority of the president and “guarantee the separation and balance of powers,” he said.
However, protesters are demanding deep reforms that they say should be carried out by “transitional institutions,” with no ties whatsoever to members of the former political establishment.
“The Hirak will continue until all its demands are met,” said Ali Salhi, 53, an employee of Algerian energy giant Sonatrach. “There must be a radical change of the system, a transition and a new constitution. We need concrete measure.”
Protesters also hit the streets in the country’s second-largest city, Oran, despite a heavy police deployment to protest against Tebboune, said Said Salhi, vice president of the Algerian human rights group LADDH, quoting local protesters.
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