Hundreds of lawyers in Algeria's Tizi-Ouzou province staged a protest on Wednesday, calling for a radical change in the country's system and rejecting the July 4 presidential election. The lawyers, clad in their black robes, marched through the city, chanting slogans and carrying placards that read "System get out!", "El Gaïd get out!", and "Non à l'élection du 4 juillet !". The protest was organized by the local bar association and was attended by a large number of lawyers.
The protest was a show of solidarity with the Algerian people, who have been demanding a change in the country's system for several months. The lawyers said they wanted to "redonner un nouveau souffle au mouvement populaire" (give a new breath to the popular movement) and to express their support for the population. They also demanded the departure of the current system, which they described as "tyrannique".
One of the lawyers, Me Saïd Halit, said that the lawyers had decided to continue their fight until the system was changed. "On veut un changement radical du système et non une transition clanique" (We want a radical change in the system, not a clan transition), he said. He also commented on the recent arrests of several personalities, saying that they were part of a power struggle between different clans.
Another lawyer, Me Rahem Kaci, said that the lawyers could not back down as long as the power was still in the hands of the current system. He regretted that after 12 Fridays of protests, nothing had changed. "On refuse l'élection du 4 juillet" (We reject the July 4 election), he said, citing the fact that the Constitution had been violated several times.
The lawyers also demanded an independent judiciary and an end to the current system of governance. Me Hamid Morsli said that the only article that could be applied in the current situation was article 7, which stated that the people were the source of all power. He said that the lawyers rejected the July 4 election and wanted a return to the popular will.
The protest was marked by a strong sense of determination among the lawyers, who vowed to continue their fight until their demands were met. They also expressed their support for the detained politicians, including Louisa Hannoun, and demanded an end to the arrests.
The protest in Tizi-Ouzou was the latest in a series of demonstrations across Algeria, where people have been demanding a change in the country's system and an end to corruption. The government has responded with a series of measures, including the arrest of several high-ranking officials, but the protesters remain unsatisfied.
Key points
- Algerian lawyers protest against July 4 election, demanding a radical change in the country's system.
- Lawyers reject the election, citing the fact that the Constitution has been violated several times.
- Protesters demand an independent judiciary and an end to the current system of governance.
