Bouteflika allows himself a third term

Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika opened the way for a third term Monday in a ministerial council, the president office announced.

• Article 74 related to office mandate has been changed to put no limit for a president to be re-elected.
• Bouteflika under the new constitution is allowed to run for a third term in the presidential elections scheduled in spring 2009.
• The proposal will be then submitted to parliament for approval. The president could have called, according to constitution, for a referendum to change the fundamental law.
• Opposition rejects firmly this amendment seen as pretext for Bouteflika to run for a third term. However the presidential alliance is backing this initiative.
• The change also substitutes the head of government by the prime minister. He presents his plan of action to parliament as he implements the president’s program.