The Algerian military wants to declare President Abdelaziz Bouteflika incapacitated. For this purpose, Article 102 of the Constitution should be applied, according to which the head of state „completely incapable of exercising his functions because of severe and permanent illness,“ said General Ahmed Gaid Salah in a televised speech. From this step Salah expects, in his own words, „a way out of the crisis“. The army was the guarantor and guardian of national independence.
Article 102 of the Constitution stipulates that the Parliament, acting on a proposal from the Constitutional Council, may declare the head of state incapacitated by a two-thirds majority. In this case, the President of the Parliamentary House of Lords assumes office for 45 days.
If the incapacity continues thereafter, the post of head of state becomes vacant. Thereafter, an election must be organized within 90 days. The acting president of the constitutional council, Tayeb Belaiz, would have to start the process against Bouteflika. The 70-year-old, however, is a confidant of the 82-year-olds.
