ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA

ALGIERS, Algeria — (AP) — The parties behind the Algerian president's governing majority dominated local and regional elections, while Islamist parties saw their support diminish, according to official results. The long-ruling FLN party won the most seats in town halls around Africa’s largest country, followed by allied party RND. Support for Islamist parties El Bina and the MSP fell sharply compared to June legislative elections. Widespread disillusionment kept turnout low, at 34-36%, but that was still higher than the 23% participation rate in the June legislative elections. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune framed the voting as the final step in a process of renewing politics after Bouteflika’s ouster, following presidential and legislative elections.

They both carved out sterling reputations as military and political leaders over years of public service.

The parties of Algeria’s ruling majority dominated local and regional elections while Islamist parties saw their support diminish.

Algeria Bouteflika The convoy carrying the coffin of former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika drives on its way to the El Alia cemetery in Algiers, Sunday, Sept.19, 202. Algeria's leader declared a three-day period of mourning starting Saturday for former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose 20-year-long rule, riddled with corruption, ended in disgrace as he was pushed from power amid huge street protests when he decided to seek a new term. Bouteflika, who had been ailing since a stroke in 2013, died Friday at 84. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum) (Fateh Guidoum)ALGIERS, Algeria — (AP) — Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was laid to rest on Sunday in the martyrs section of the capital’s main cemetery, quietly honored despite his fall from grace, forced from office after two decades. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who on Saturday declared three days of mourning, was among the officials at the ceremony.

Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been laid to rest, quietly honored despite being forced from office in 2019 after two decades in power.

Algeria Obit Bouteflika FILE - In this Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, file photo, Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika addresses the nations's top officials in Algiers. Former Algerian President Bouteflika, who fought for independence from France in the 1950s and 1960s and was ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after 20 years in power, has died at age 84, state television announced Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. Bouteflika, who had been ailing since a stroke in 2013, died Friday at 84. Flags are to fly at half-staff during the mourning period, the president’s office said. The honors reflect Bouteflika’s role in Algeria’s brutal seven-year war for independence from France that ended in 1962.

Algeria’s leader has declared a three-day period of mourning for former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose 20-year-long rule ended in disgrace as he was pushed from power amid huge street protests when he decided to seek a new term.

Algeria Obit Bouteflika FILE -In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, file photo, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika casts his ballot for local elections in Algiers. Former Algerian President Bouteflika, who fought for independence from France in the 1950s and 1960s and was ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after 20 years in power, has died at age 84, state television announced Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul, File) (Anis Belghoul)ALGIERS, Algeria — (AP) — Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who fought for independence from France in the 1950s and 1960s and was ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after 20 years in power, has died at age 84, state television announced Friday. Bouteflika had been known as a wily survivor ever since he fought for independence from France. In Algeria’s bloody independence war, he commanded the southern Mali front and slipped into France clandestinely in 1961 to contact jailed liberation leaders.

ALGIERS, Algeria — (AP) — Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who fought for independence from France in the 1950s and 1960s and was ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after 20 years in power, has died at age 84, state television announced Friday. The report on ENTV, citing a statement from the office of current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, did not provide the cause of death or other details. Bouteflika had suffered a stroke in 2013 that had badly weakened him. Concerns about his state of health, kept secret from the Algerian public, helped feed public frustration with his rule that erupted in mass public protests in 2019 that led to his departure. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Algerian state television says former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who fought for independence from France and was ousted from power in 2019 amid pro-democracy protests, has died at age 84.

(AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum) (Fateh Guidoum)ALGIERS, Algeria — (AP) — A moderate Islamist party claimed victory Sunday in Algeria's legislative election even though results were not expected for several more days. The low participation reflected disinterest, longstanding opposition in the Berber region and a boycott by the pro-democracy movement that forced the country's longtime president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to resign in 2019. In the Kabyle region, a traditional opposition bastion, some polling booths never opened or were pillaged Saturday, according to Algerian media. The parties that dominated the national legislature body in an alliance under Bouteflika, the FLN and RND, have been disgraced. Supporters of the movement opposed the election, saying they want a more drastic political transition to upend the system and start with a fresh slate.

A moderate Islamist party has claimed victory Sunday in Algeria’s legislative election even though results were not expected for several more days.

"You want change, cast your ballot" voters are told, but the mass protest movement says it is pointless.

Algerians voted for a new parliament in an election with a majority of novice independent candidates running under new rules meant to erase political corruption and open the way to a “new Algeria.”.

Algeria Election Kickoff FILE - In this April 2, 2021 file photo, demonstrators invade the streets of Algiers. It was pressure from marchers of the Hirak movement and from the army chief at the time that decided Bouteflika's fate. Earlier this month, the Interior Ministry ordered Hirak to get authorization for marches and specify the march route and organizers. President Tebboune has worked to clean up Algerian politics in what appears to be in part a bid to appease protesters of Hirak. “The massive participation of youth, university teachers, women has confused the enemies of Algeria,” Communications Minister Amar Belhimer said Thursday on national radio, renewing suggestions of a hidden plot against the nation.

Candidates hopeful of winning one of the 407 seats in the Algerian parliament have kicked off campaigning for legislative elections in June under a new system meant to weed out corruption and open voter rolls.

Candidates hopeful of winning one of the 407 seats in the Algerian parliament kicked off campaigning this week for next month's legislative elections under a new system meant to weed out corruption and open voter rolls — a major step in President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s promise of a “new Algeria.” Parity between male and female candidates is among new rules governing the elections. Hirak supporters, including parties from the so-called “democratic movement,” have vowed to boycott the first legislative voting since former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced from office in April 2019 after 20 years in power.

Algeria’s pro-democracy movement is at a crossroads two years after it ousted the country’s long-serving leader.

Algerian students demonstrate, one with a poster reading "The right to defend our rights" in Algiers, Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Protesters took to the streets of Algiers and other cities around Algeria last Friday in a bid to restart weekly pro-democracy demonstrations. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum)ALGIERS – Hundreds of students restarted their weekly Tuesday protest marches that were called off last spring because of the coronavirus. The march came eight days after the Hirak pro-democracy movement reappeared in streets around the country to mark its second anniversary and days after the weekly Friday marches restarted. Hirak's peaceful protests helped force long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from office in 2019.

Algerians demonstrate in Algiers to mark the second anniversary of the Hirak movement, Monday Feb. 22, 2021. February 22 marks the second anniversary of Hirak, the popular movement that led to the fall of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The protesters of the Hirak movement helped force long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power in 2019. The president also dissolved parliament to pave the way for new elections, among the demands of the Hirak movement. The stream of activists, men, women and children, filled the capital's streets, recalling the height of the Hirak movement.

FILE - In this Thursday, May 4, 2017 file photo, Said Bouteflika, the brother of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, takes ballots before voting in Algiers. A military appeal court in Algeria on Saturday has cleared the brother of the country's longtime former leader, two ex-intelligence chiefs and the leader of a leftist political party who had all been accused of plotting against the state. Among the four defendants was Said Bouteflika, the brother and once-powerful special counsellor of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who forced to resign from office in April 2019 amid growing peaceful street protests. Khaled Berghel, the lawyer for Said Bouteflika, told the official APS news agency that the Blida military appeal court decided to clear the four defendants. Saturday’s ruling comes after the Supreme Court decided in November to quash the previous verdict and retry the case.

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 file photo, Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivers a speech during an inauguration ceremony in the presidential palace, in Algiers, Algeria. (AP Photo/Toufik Doudou, File)ALGIERS – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said Tuesday that he was back in his country but still recovering from COVID-19 after two months away. After nearly two months out of the public eye, the 75-year-old president reappeared in mid-December in a video message, saying it might be several weeks before he was fit enough to return to Algeria. “Being far away from the country is difficult,” he said in the video aired Tuesday. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has been in charge during Tebboune’s absence as the country struggles with an economy worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune fell ill and then left for treatment in Germany in late October. Before his 4-minute, 54-second video on Sunday, his last public appearance had been in mid-October, meeting France's foreign minister when he visited the former French colony. The 75-year-old Tebboune spoke clearly in the video and did not appear short of breath even after long phrases. “I will fully recover my physical strength in perhaps one, two or three weeks,” he said. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has been in charge during Tebboune’s absence as the country struggles with an economy made worse by the coronavirus and other issues.

ALGIERS – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune marks a year in office Saturday but he is nowhere in sight since his evacuation to Germany more than six weeks ago for treatment of COVID-19. “I sincerely expected him to give us a surprise by returning home today for the first anniversary of his election. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has been in charge during Tebboune’s absence, conspicuous as the country struggles with an economy made worse by the coronavirus and a host of other issues. Constitutional law professor Fatiha Benabou said there is no date limiting the time Tebboune can be away. “But on a political level, the absence of the president, who embodies the essential powers, is obviously a problem."

ALGIERS – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has finished his treatment for COVID-19 in an undisclosed location in Germany, and is undergoing medical tests, his office said Sunday. Amid growing concern in Algeria about the 74-year-old president’s health, his office issued a statement Sunday saying: “The medical team accompanying him confirms that the president has completed the recommended treatment protocol after having contracted COVID-19, and is currently undergoing medical tests.”The statement didn't provide details about his condition or his location, or indicate when Tebboune might return to Algeria. Tebboune was sent to an Algerian military hospital last month and then transferred to Germany in a special medical plane on Oct. 28. His office initially didn't explain the reason for the move, but confirmed a week later that he had the virus. Algeria has reported 2,139 virus-related deaths and more than 66,000 infections.