Algerian Pres. announces candidacy for second term

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced on Thursday, his official candidacy for the presidential elections that will be held on the seventh of next September. The President said in a televised statement that "the decision to run came at the request of many parties, political and non-political organizations, and young people," as he indicated that "it is time to announce candidacy for a second term, as permitted by the Constitution," adding that "the Algerian people have the final say in that." The President had previously expressed his desire to run for a second term, as he received the support of the political parties represented in Parliament, in addition to national organizations, trade union federations, and civil society activists, who called on him to "continue the reform program." The Independent Election Authority announced on Sunday that it had counted 34 people wishing to run in the presidential elections scheduled for next September 7, after they had withdrawn the individual signature re gistration forms. The Authority confirmed that the process of withdrawing individual signatures registration forms from its headquarters will continue until midnight on July 18, which is the last deadline set for submitting the candidacy declaration. Source: Kuwait News Agency