Interim President Abdelkader Bensalah’s three-month term ended on Tuesday, during which he couldn’t carry out the only constitutional role he was assigned to.
Bensalah was set to organize presidential elections to replace the resigning president, as stipulated by the country’s constitution. He set July 4 to hold the elections, but it was canceled later by the Constitutional Council due to lack of candidates.
The Council said it had received only two candidacies, deemed invalid. It did not set a new date for the polls, asking Bensalah to organize a vote at a later date.
According to legal experts, the country has been witnessing a “constitutional vacuum” since Tuesday, saying Bensalah’s rule after the end of his term has become illegitimate.
Former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down on April 2 under pressure from a pro-democracy protest movement that won the army’s backing, led by Gaed Salah.
Algeria’s parliament named the upper house speaker, Bensalah, as the interim leader on April 9, replacing Bouteflika.
Meanwhile, three activists who have been recently arrested, face harsh measures on charges of trying to weaken the army after slamming Salah during last Friday’s demonstrations.
On Monday night, security forces in Tlemcen (500 km west of the capital Algiers) arrested the activists, who were questioned by the prosecution Tuesday morning and charged with “contributing to weakening the army’s morale” and “insulting authorities.”
According to lawyers who attended the interrogation session, the activists were informed that the intelligence agency had taken pictures of them raising banners and chanting anti-Salah slogans during Friday’s protests in Tlemcen.
The charges against them were made following university panel discussions on the protest, and the army’s role in politics, a judicial source said.
The source added that they were severely criticized by the army and its commander.
The army has been dealing harshly with demonstrators who criticize its leader, not hesitating to jail them.
Dozens of demonstrators have also been arrested on other charges, mainly for “threatening national unity” by brandishing the Berber flag during protests.
