Author: Adam Nossiter / Source: New York Times
Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Thousands poured into Algeria’s streets on Friday for a second week of unusual demonstrations against the country’s aging and ailing president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose decision to run for a fifth term has aroused unexpected popular opposition.
Analysts and local journalists said the size of the antigovernment crowds all over the country was the largest in over 30 years, and spoke of a possible shift in the balance of power in a place ruled for years by a gerontocracy left over from the country’s war of independence against France nearly 60 years ago. They said this Friday’s crowds were even bigger than those of last week.
Frustration with a president so enfeebled that his framed image — known as “the frame” — replaces his physical presence at government rallies appears to have boiled over, analysts said.
Mr. Bouteflika turns 82 on Saturday, is paralyzed and in a wheelchair following a 2013 stroke, and has not spoken in public in seven years. He left the country earlier this week for medical treatment in Switzerland and has not returned.
The streets of Algiers were thick with demonstrators, many of them young, who took to the protests after Friday prayers. Many held signs saying “Stop!” and shouting “F.L.N., get lost,” referring to the historic ruling party.
Last week the F.L.N. party leader, Mouad Bouchareb, scornfully told the demonstrators: “To all those calling for change: I say dream on, and sleep well!”
Those comments enraged the crowd.
“It’s a republic, not a kingdom!” some shouted, while others yelled, “You’ve stolen the country.”
Over and over the demonstrators said they were on the street because they had had enough of Mr. Bouteflika. “I’m demonstrating against a fifth term, because our economic and political situation is so bad,” said Kamel, a hotel receptionist in Algiers who would not give his last name for fear of government reprisal.
Street protests are officially banned in the capital and the police have not hesitated to use force to repress them. As Mr. Bouteflika’s condition has steadily deteriorated, the government has stifled opposition by adopting security laws with often vague and broad definitions of what qualifies as a threat to the state.
But this time that strategy does not appear to be working. The country’s extensive security forces have been mostly passive as citizens have coursed through the streets of Algiers shouting slogans against Mr. Bouteflika’s candidacy. On Friday, there was occasional use of tear gas, but the police appeared to be well disposed…
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