ALGIERS: A coalition of Algerian opposition parties has vowed to pursue its struggle for “real” regime change, warning yesterday that the existing political impasse will cause the state to collapse.
The coalition of three Islamist parties and two others, including the fiercely secular Rally for Culture and Democracy, made its pledge at a meeting attended by other opposition groupings and former prime ministers.
It comes less than two months after the re-election of 77-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose poor health forced him to vote in a wheelchair and has caused many to question whether he will see out his fourth term in office.
The coalition, which boycotted the election, vowed “to continue its struggle for a real change, one that will establish the sovereignty of the people as well as their freedom to choose their leaders.”
The parties said their announcement came after “observing the (political) crisis and the certainty that the country’s current impasse will lead to the collapse of the state.”
They urged Algeria’s leadership “not to miss the historic opportunity... to respond positively” to their call for a democratic transition. AFP
