President of Algerian parliament quits amid ongoing protest

Moad Bouchareb was seen by protesters as a central pillar of the Bouteflika era

An Algerian demonstrator waves a national flag as he takes part in a protest in the capital Algiers on July 2, 2019. AFP

The president of Algeria’s Parliament quit on Tuesday after months of protests calling for him to go ever since president Abdelaziz Bouteflika stood down earlier this year.

Moad Bouchareb was seen by many protesters as one of the central pillars of “le pouvoir”, or the power – the nickname for the shadowy group of men from the security agencies, ruling National Liberation Front and business who have run the country for years. Demonstrators called for him to quit as they seek fresh leadership after the ailing 82-year old Mr Bouteflika agreed to step down in the face of months of protests on April 2.

Mr Bouchareb’s duties were handed to deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Abdul Razzak Tarbash for the next 15 days.

Ever since Mr Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013, he has largely been absent from public life and rarely heard. Many on the streets accused those around him of running the country in his stead, entrenching nepotism and corruption as the economy stagnated with low oil prices after 2014.

Moad Bouchareb at the National People's Assembly in Algiers on October 24, 2018. Reuters, file

The wave of protests that force Mr Boutfelika to first rule out running for a fifth term in office then to step down have amplified calls for sweeping change and new leadership.

Protesters have also called for interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui to step down.

Since Mr Bouteflika left office, a number of important figures – including the country’s richest man, Issad Rebrab – have been brought in for questioning or arrested on corruption charges as the interim government begins to take action against years of waste and stagnation.

However, authorities have postponed a presidential election, previously planned for July 4, because of a lack of candidates, with no new date set for the vote.

Despite rising temperatures and an increasing police presence, protests have continued in Algeria. On Friday, some 100 police vans – many more than usual – rolled into the centre of the capital ahead of the march. Ahmed, a 54-year-old protester, said he had never seen such a heavy police presence.
"They want to scare us, but they're wrong – fear is behind us," he said. The vehicles remained in place throughout the rally.

Police particularly targeted protesters carrying the Berber flag, after army chief and key power broker Ahmed Gaid Salah banned all flags other than the national colours at rallies.

Algeria's Berber minority has long suffered marginalisation.

After arresting one man carrying the flag, police fired tear gas to cover their retreat, provoking anger among the protesters, who were quickly calmed by volunteers determined to ensure demonstrations remain peaceful.

The rally in Algiers – and some 31 of the country's 48 regions – dispersed without major incidents in the late afternoon, the official APS news agency said.

Demonstrations were planned for Friday night in six sub-Saharan regions of Algeria.