"
No elections with the mob,
" chanted thousands of people demonstrating Friday in Algiers, the day after the announcement of early legislative elections on June 12, rejected by the Hirak anti-regime protest movement.
Read also: Algeria: these sympathizers who tire of a Hirak with no political outlet
A first procession marched from Didouche Mourad Street, the main thoroughfare in the center of the capital, towards the Grande Poste, an emblematic gathering place for protesters, joined after the big Friday prayer by other processions, notably from the neighborhoods popular in Bab El Oued and Belcourt.
“
The same system is still in place.
We will not vote on June 12,
”M'Hamed, a 50-year-old trader, told AFP.
Since the 2nd anniversary of the popular uprising on February 22, Hirak demonstrators have resumed their Friday marches, the movement's weekly mobilization day suspended for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"
For its safeguard, the system says: legislative
Could be read on a poster brandished by the crowd chanting "
Civil status and not military
", one of the movement's flagship slogans.
While public gatherings remain prohibited due to the pandemic, demonstrators also took to the streets in Oran (west), Tizi Ouzou, Skikda, Jijel or Annaba (east).
Journalists assaulted
Arrests took place, according to the National Committee for the Release of Prisoners (CNLD), a support association.
According to the CNLD, several journalists and a Hirak activist have been the target of violent attacks by a group of "
baltaguis
", thugs in the service of the regime who attack the Hirakists.
In addition, other journalists were attacked by demonstrators during the parade, in particular a team from the international channel of TV France 24, AFP noted.
This is not the first time that protesters have expressed their animosity towards journalists, accused of bias in favor of the regime.
Some also accuse journalists working for French media of being the representatives of a country considered an ally of power.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday called early legislative elections on June 12, in an attempt to regain control in the face of the return to the streets of the pro-democracy movement.
The ballot was initially due to take place in 2022, but Abdelmadjid Tebboune dissolved on February 21 the National People's Assembly (APN), the lower house of Parliament, paving the way for these early legislative elections.
To respond to the political crisis which the government has been facing for two years, he released dozens of prisoners of conscience and called on the protesters, who continue to demand the dismantling of the "
system
" in place since the independence of the Algeria (1962), to be at the rendezvous of the electoral deadline.
"
As long as this power is still in place, as long as the people are still victims of injustices, as long as the people have not realized their dream, that of a rule of law, I will never vote
", replied. Friday Malika, a 51-year-old civil servant.
Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected on December 12, 2019 in a ballot massively boycotted by the Hirak and the political opposition.
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