Guterres praises the 'mature nature' of Algerians’ demands for change

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised on Wednesday the “mature and peaceful nature, through which the Algerian people expressed their will for change.”

This came in a statement by Guterres, issued by his Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, of which Anadolu had a copy.

Guterres said in the statement that he “looks forward to a peaceful and democratic transition that reflects the wishes of the Algerian people.”

He stressed, “the United Nations’ continued commitment to support Algeria in the process of democratization.”Earlier on Wednesday, the Constitutional Council of Algeria announced the vacancy of the post of President of the country, following the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, on Tuesday evening.

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A statement issued by the council after its meeting, and published by the official Algeria Press Service, said that “it will inform the parliament of the vacancy today (Wednesday), in the framework of Article 102 of the Constitution, concerning the vacancy of the post.” Article 102 provides that “in case of resignation or death of the President of the Republic, the Constitutional Council shall meet as of right and declare the definitive vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic… The council shall immediately pass the final vacancy declaration to the Parliament which shall meet immediately.”

Under the same article “the President of the Council of the Nation shall assume the functions of the Head of State for a maximum period of ninety (90) days, during which presidential elections shall be organized, and the Head of State appointed in this manner shall not be entitled to run for the presidency.”

On Tuesday evening, Bouteflika submitted his letter of resignation to the Constitutional Council, following a statement by the army’s leadership, in which Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salah called for an immediate withdrawal in response to the people’s will.