Algeria Friday Demonstrations Were Of Highest Priority For International Media

International media reacted remarkably to last Friday’s protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s bid for a 5th term, reversing the first Friday on February 22, when most of them focused on the fact that the demonstrations were historic and were the largest in the country for many years, amid a consensus among Algerians to reject the fifth term.

French media gave importance to the Friday protests, as the newspaper “Le Figaro” published an article about the event on its front page; “Algerians are demonstrating against Bouteflika in large numbers”, explaining that the protests took place all over the country to say no to Bouteflika’s fifth term. “Le Figaro” described last Fridays protests in Algeria as an unprecedented event at all.

“Le Parisien” newspaper published on the front page; “Algerian weekend, which can turn all scales”, and accompanied its article with the image of the national flag and demonstrators.

The Algerian issue was also published on the front page of the French newspaper “Le Monde”, which read “Algeria: After the demonstrations, the regime is living under pressure”, explaining that protests and major rallies took place across the country on Friday in protest against Bouteflika’s re-election for a 5th term.

Le Monde dedicated the second and third page to the Friday protests in Algeria, saying that Algiers witnessed large peaceful demonstrations.

The Italian press wrote articles about Friday protests, and “La Stampa” newspaper in Torino said that thousands of Algerians went out to the streets to protest against Bouteflika’s bid for a fifth term and demanding the withdrawal of the president’s candidacy.

Italy news channel “Rai News” reported that there was an upsurge in anger among young people against President Bouteflika’s decision, adding that the country has known peaceful marches in many areas despite some riots in Algiers.

Spanish press, for its part, addressed the marches extensively, as the popular El Pais newspaper said; “Fear changes its position in Algeria and hundreds of thousands in the streets to protest against the president Bouteflika’s bid for a fifth term”.

El Pais added that the protests of Algerians against the fifth term were mostly peaceful except for some incidents in the capital, and enclosed some of the slogans by the protesters to express their rejection of the fifth term.

American newspaper “The New York Times” published a lengthy article, “Algerian Protests Grow Against President Bouteflika, Ailing and Out of Sight”, explaining that “Thousands poured into Algeria’s streets on Friday for the second week of unusual demonstrations against the country’s ageing and ailing president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose decision to run for a fifth term has aroused unexpected popular opposition”.

Qatar “Al Jazeera Net” website said that Algeria Friday demonstrations are the largest in years against ailing President Bouteflika’s bid for a 5th term, and despite the escalation of protests, it appeared that the authorities will not back down from this step.

Al Jazeera Net explained that the demonstrations took place in several cities, most notably the capital Algiers, Constantine, Setif, Annaba, Blida, Ghardaia, Oran, Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, Skikda, Annaba, Bouira, Messila, Biskra, Batna, Medea, Tiaret and Sidi Belabbes, where participation rates in these protests varied.