One month ago, on October 28, the Algerian president, infected with the coronavirus, was transferred to a hospital in Germany. The Algerian authorities are communicating a bit about the health condition of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 75, in addition to saying that he is improving. Faced with this opacity, Algerians are worried about paralysis at the top of the state.
Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s most recent public appearance was on October 15, according to local media. Since then, no picture of the head of state has an exact date of return to Algeria.
Despite the few communications from the authorities, the Algerians are wondering about the president’s health and wondering who is responsible for the country. Especially since the current political, health and economic context requires decision-making at the top of the state.
The memory of Bouteflika
In the absence of Abdelmadjib Tebboune, there are some cases left due to the constitution. An amendment was adopted despite a record-breaking countdown in the referendum on 1 November. It was President Tebboune’s first major project. The vote was finally held without him. And almost a month later, the amended text has still not entered into force because the head of state is not there to ratify it.
Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution provides for the procedure to be followed in the event of the President’s incapacity, but it has not been activated at present.
For Algeria, the long absence of Abdelmadjid Tebboune brings to mind the situation of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013.
►Listening: Algeria: a new constitution for nothing?
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