Despite protesters protest: Former prime minister elected Algerian president

Abd al-Majid Tebun, who previously served as minister and prime minister, was elected Algerian president in the face of mass protests against him. As someone who served under former president Botflika, he is not accepted by much of the people and is seen as the old and corrupt regime's representative. With his victory, he promised: "We will create a new Algeria"

Despite protesters protest: Former prime minister elected Algerian president

(Demonstrations in Algeria for Democratic, Controlled and Fair Election to Presidential Institution, September 2019)

Former Algerian Prime Minister Abd al-Majid Tebun was elected president on Friday. After his victory, he vowed to approach the pro-democracy protesters who flocked to the streets in protest of his election to the oil-rich state-run mayor and saturated with government corruption.

74-year-old Babylon, former Algerian prime minister, received 58.15% of the vote, according to results released yesterday by National Election Commissioner Mohamed Sharpie. Former Prime Minister Abdel Qadr Negrine came out second in Thursday's election with 17 percent of the vote, and former Prime Minister Ali Benfilis with 10 percent of the vote. The turnout was particularly low and stood at only 41%, reflecting the frustration of voters wanting to see new candidates in the state presidential election.

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Will eradicate corruption in the country? Elected President Savage (Photo: Reuters)

Algeria's elected president Abd al-Majid Tebun (Photo: Reuters)

In a symbolic move, Tebun's first words as president were directed at members of the pro-democracy movement that boycotted the election. At a press conference, he said he was ready to meet with the protest leaders to "listen to them and address their concerns." He said he would consider the possibility of re-examining the constitution a matter of paramount importance, to create a "new Algeria" that fits the aspirations of the pro-democracy movement, adding that this measure will be finally decided in a referendum.

Sageen vowed to fight "corruption that polluted the state" and clean up politics, emphasizing that he wanted to end ties with the corrupt and "dirty money" in the country. He also promised to include young men and women in his government. He commended the Algerian army and its commander, General Gaid Salah, for proper and restrained conduct in the face of pro-democracy protests in the last nine months - ending without bloodshed.

Protesters claim election fraud

The elected president, who suffered insults and protests against him during his campaign, is already facing obstacles. The person responsible for funding his campaign, Omar Elilat, was jailed on corruption charges, and Tebun's son was under investigation for a drug-related case, according to Algeria's National Television Station.

The electoral council was recently formed out of a desire for transparency, as state leaders were considered to be elected by fictitious elections and as essentially elected by the elite. Therefore, Tebun's election has disappointed many voters who believe that the votes were cast in his favor and the "old regime". Tens of thousands of people took to the streets yesterday (Friday) to demand "free and democratic Algeria" and to protest their election results. They shouted "not for the disdainful elections" and came out against the fraud that was in the election they claim.

It is believed that the election results were biased. Protesters in Algeria, last night (Photo: Reuters)

Protests in Algeria against presidential election results (Photo: Reuters)

The non-violent protests took place in several cities in the country, including the capital Algeria, and some were quickly dispersed by police. The country's media reported many detainees. Algeria is one of the youngest population in the world, with two-thirds of its population under the age of 30. A quarter of those young people are unemployed, leading to a resentment against the administration.

The new president, considered close to General Salah who has been widely criticized by the pro-democracy movement, was Algeria's prime minister for a brief term in 2017 under President Abdel Aziz Butflica, who ruled for two decades in the country. In addition, Tebun served as a minister in Botflica's governments and served as Minister of Communications and Minister of Urbanization. He was sacked in 2017 from his post as prime minister by Said Butflica, the president's younger brother, who was charged with corruption in September and is currently serving 15 years in prison. Apparently, Savon led policy decisions that hurt businessmen who were president-related. These are now in jail and charged with bribery.

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Crowds took to the streets yesterday to protest election results (Photo: Reuters)

Protests against Algeria's presidential election results (Photo: Reuters)

During his campaign campaign, Tebon tried to broadcast an image of a man chasing oligarchs, especially those from the circle of Said Butflica's relatives, but it was difficult for voters to forget his ties with President Butflika and his people.

French President Emmanuel Macaron refrained from welcoming the elected president, choosing instead to "hope that the aspirations expressed by the Algerian people will receive a response in a dialogue that must be opened between the government and the people." Macron added: "It is the responsibility of the Algerians to find the ways and means to do so, during a democratic and genuine dialogue."