Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned after weeks of protests. He has officially announced the end of his term to the President of the Constitutional Court, the state news agency APS reported.
With his retreat he wanted to contribute to the „pacification of the hearts and minds“ of his compatriots, wrote Bouteflika accordingly. In the city center of Algiers, dozens of people spontaneously gathered to celebrate.
Only on Monday had Bouteflika after 20 years at the head of the largest country in terms of area surprisingly announced to resign before the end of his term on 28 April. He left the exact date but open.
Weeklong protests across the country
For weeks, hundreds of thousands of people across the country have been protesting against Bouteflika and his power elite. First, Bouteflika postponed the presidential election scheduled for mid-April and announced reforms, but extended his term indefinitely. There had been protests, too.
According to the Algerian constitution, in the case of the resignation of the Head of State, the President of the House of Lords assumes office. Currently, the Abdelkader Bensalah, an old companion Bouteflikas. Within 90 days, a new president must be elected. An official statement on the part of the Algerian authorities does not exist so far.
