Algerian Parliament Speaker Saeed Bouhja resigned after receiving a petition signed by 300 parliamentarians accusing him of "not respecting presidential orders.”
Lawmakers decided to boycott the speaker over the pushed forth accusation.
Parliamentary sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that lawmakers that signed the roaster belong to the National Liberation Front majority party headed by Bouteflika, in addition to three other parties loyal to the president: the National Democratic Rally and the National Movement of Hope and Algerian Popular Movement.
The list also included independent lawmakers, who are also loyal to Bouteflika.
This procedure was sponsored by parliamentary affairs minister Mahjoub Bada, promising to soon confirm a presidential backing of the petition, sources said.
There are many precedents similar to Bouhja’s incident. In 2004, Karim Younes, head of the constitutional council, was forced to resign after backing NLF secretary-general Ali Benflis in the 2004 presidential elections.
Benflis lost to his rival Bouteflika.
In 1999, the same scenario occurred with the late Bachir Boumaza, who was pushed by members of the National Assembly to remove him from presidency for political and personal differences with Bouteflika.
In 1992, the army generals disbanded the parliament, overturning legislative elections following an overwhelming victory for national Islamists.
Through time, Bouteflika’s approval proved to be a passing benchmark for any official that wishes to serve Algeria.
