More than 1,000 Algerian judges have declared they will not supervise the country's upcoming election if President Abdelaziz Bouteflika remains a candidate, signaling growing resistance to his bid for a fifth term.
The 82-year-old leader's decision to run has triggered widespread protests across Algeria, the largest challenge to his two-decade rule. Demonstrators, including students, union members, and legal professionals, have gathered for over two weeks, demanding political change and economic opportunities.
In a statement, the judiciary emphasized its commitment to upholding the people's will, stating: "We announce our intention to abstain from supervising the election process against the will of the people, which is the only source of power." The judges framed their stance as part of a broader effort to "declare that we are the people."
Meanwhile, military chief of staff Lt Gen Gaed Salah asserted the armed forces share the public's vision for Algeria's future, marking the first clear indication of institutional support for the protests. Religious leaders also resisted government pressure, with Imam Djamel Ghoul urging authorities to stop interfering in clerical duties.
Bouteflika, who has not appeared publicly since a 2013 stroke, faces accusations of elite corruption and economic stagnation. His administration has warned that the demonstrations risk plunging the country into "chaos." Protests have expanded to include university strikes, with teachers and students joining the growing unrest.
