Algeria's parliament approves new constitution with term limits

In an effort to reform the country, Algeria's parliament approved a new constitution that will limit the president's term and recognizing the official language used by the Berber minority. The government of Algeria has adopted a package of constitutional changes that will strengthen the nation's democratic stature.

According to Al Jazeera, the reforms are meant to address and relieve grievances from the public in the North African nation. It will also provide a smooth transition amid the health condition of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is now 78 years old.

Senate Speaker Abdelkader Bensalaha said that 499 votes to two voted for the reformation, with 16 abstentions. In 2008, the two-term limit on the presidency was lifted to make Bouteflika run for president for the third time, as reported by Yahoo News. It will be then reintroduced and the nation's president will need to nominate a prime minister from the largest party in parliament.

President Bouteflika's engagement towards the public has become rear since suffering a stroke back in 2013. He will be allowed to finish his fourth term, which will end in 2019. On Sunday, the new text is being presented to the senate and the assembly, as reported by the Times of India.

Algeria's Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said that history will remember that all people of Algeria have contributed to a renewed republic to which the people can aspire again. The prime minister also praised the president as the architect of the new Algerian republic. However, critics disagree saying the reforms are little more than a show and will not have a huge impact to minimize the influence of the powerful elite, which includes the National Liberation Front Party and army generals that are controlled by Bouteflika. Moreover, the constitution will strengthen the use of Amazigh as the official language of the government, which many activists pushed for recognition for many years.

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algeria parliament, new constitution, term limits, algeria elections, algerian reform, North African nation, Berber language

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