Bouteflika’s appearance stops requests to apply Article 88

Voices which called for the application of the Constitution’s Article No 88 as images of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika were broadcast on TV channel.

There are politicians who still call on the Constitutional Council to reactivate Article 88 related to measures to be taken if the President of the Republic can not perform his duties due to illness or any other reason.

Algeria’s FLN and RND parties rejected this call as they represent “power tool.” Yet the MSP movement joined the two parties. Earlier, its leader had called on authorities to give all the details about Bouteflika’s health condition in order to take a clear position about Article 88.

Yet, he changed his position, saying the call for the implementation of Article 88 is normal. “However, it depends on some data such as the medical file but it is not available. Our movement cares about transparent presidential elections.”

Representative of the Justice and Development Front Lakhdar Benkhelaf prefers to hold anticipated presidential elections.

“I think that it is difficult to reactivate Article 88 for political and factual reasons. It would be better to let the president act by himself. If he can not continue working because of his illness, he can call for anticipated presidential elections,” he told Echorouk on the phone on Friday.

Spokesman for Nahda movement Amhamed Hdibi said anticipated presidential elections will be held if the president is not able to perform his constitutional missions. “This will be a constitutional request.”

Leader of Fajr Djedid party Taher Baaiche suggests to form a national government and hold elections to create an institutional council for a new constitutional. “That would be followed by presidential elections to choose an illegitimate president with all the prerogatives determined in the new Constitution,” he said.