Faced with a loss of leverage after elections or jail for opposing it, Algerians feel the country is not ready for elections.
Announcement of polls by interim President Abdelkader Bensalah comes after army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah, seen as Algeria's strongman since the fall of former leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika, insisted that polls be held by the end of 2019.
As protests enter their seventh month, Algerians continue to demonstrate for change, justice and accountability. Whether they will receive it is another question.
The Algerian football team has become the pride of a nation in need of good news following five months of weekly protests prompted by former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika planning to run for a fifth term.
Demonstrators gather in capital Algiers amid a wave of anti-corruption investigations launched by the army after protests ended the rule of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Former Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, replaced in March, was the latest person held in a sweeping anti-corruption campaign amid a people's revolt to do away with the era led by ex-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Algeria's Constitutional Council rejected two unknown candidates for the presidency and said that the planned July 4 elections would not be held.
Protest leaders say the North African country's existing institutions — and personalities — are too tarnished by corruption to guarantee a legitimate vote, but the military has insisted the election go ahead as required by the constitution.
After weeks-long demonstrations forced president Bouteflika out of office on April 2, protesters have continued mass demonstrations every Friday, demanding other members of the country's elite also give way.
Algerian state TV said five billionaires, including the country’s richest businessman Issad Rebrab and four brothers from the Kouninef family, have been arrested as part of an anti-graft investigation.
Organisers encouraged protesters to come out in Algiers and other cities to show that the departure last week of long-time leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika is not enough, that they want complete political change.
Algerians have continued with the demonstrations, which kicked off in February against veteran leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the ruling "gang," hoping for wholesale reforms in the political arena.
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