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Join on Telegram Rabat – Following the departure of former Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad, Algeria has announced former finance minister Aymen Benabderrahmane as the country’s new prime minister.
“Aimene Benabderrahmane has been appointed prime minister and charged with carrying on consultations with political parties and civil society to form a government as soon as possible,” stated an official statement.
Algeria held its primary elections on June 12 and recorded a mere 23% voter turnout. The lackluster response by voters led to the continuation of Algeria’s National Liberation (FLN) Front control of the parliament.
The FLN currently holds 98 seats in the Parliament, followed by the Society for Peace Movement (MSP) and the National Democratic Rally (RND).
Benabderrahmane served for just over a year as finance minister; Algeria’s President Abdelmajid Tebboune appointed him to the role on June 23, 2020.
Before his role as finance minister, the new prime minister served as Governor of the Bank of Algeria from November 2019 to June 2020.
Many political experts view Benabderrahmane’s appointment as prime minister as a direct result of Algeria’s failing economy. The country’s hyper dependency on oil and the COVID-19 pandemic have both crippled the already-struggling economy further.
In addition, President Tebboune’s decision to appoint the former finance minister doubles as an attempt to illustrate the “restructuring of the Algerian political system” that Hirak protestors have longed for since 2019.
Experts and protestors alike are not convinced that the move will bring about real change in Algeria.
“There have been no free and democratic elections in Algeria for 30 years,” Middle East expert Maria Josua told DW. “This time will be no different, as experience shows that parliamentary elections in Algeria are usually not the point at which anything changes.”
