Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has declared his intention to seek a fifth term despite widespread public demonstrations against his candidacy. The 82-year-old leader, who has been largely absent from public view since a 2013 stroke, submitted his nomination papers through a campaign manager while undergoing medical treatment in Switzerland.
Bouteflika's decision to run again triggered renewed protests across the country, with demonstrators gathering in Algiers as a midnight deadline approached for candidate registrations. His campaign team filed documents on his behalf, leveraging a Constitutional Council ruling that exempted him from physical presence requirements.
In a public letter read on state television, Bouteflika proposed a transitional plan should he win the April election. He pledged to initiate an "inclusive national conference" to facilitate a new presidential vote, vowing not to contest the next election. "I have heard the heartfelt cries of protesters, particularly the youth concerned about our country's future," the letter stated. "I will do everything to calm the spirits of my fellow citizens."
At least six other candidates have officially entered the race, including retired general Ali Ghediri and businessman Rachid Nekkaz. However, Nekkaz's bid was invalidated, prompting his cousin—also named Rachid Nekkaz—to run instead, with the businessman serving as campaign manager. Two major opposition parties, the Labour Party and Islamist Movement of Society for Peace, announced they would boycott the election.
