Hundreds of thousands of people, including large numbers of students demonstrated on Tuesday, Dec.10 in Algiers and across the country to reiterate their rejection of an election being forced by the military high command. This was the 42nd consecutive week of rallies spearheaded by the regime-change movement known as the Hirak, which began on 22 February 2019. The Tuesday marches brought all segments of the population to the streets, despite the traditional Tuesday rallies are generally organized by students. The crowds were so dense that protesters had difficulty walking.
The marchers managed to outsmart the police by using different routes. While a police cordon was waiting for them at Place Audin, the marchers continued to advance on Didouche Mourad, before forking on the rue Victor Hugo, to then take rue Hassiba Ben Bouali, where the crowds were overwhelming. The marchers were blocked by an impressive police presence up to the Place du 1ier May, where authorities deployed riot police. The protesters chanted the usual slogans, essentially rejecting the 12/12 presidential election and demanding the departure of the symbols of the system. Brandishing red cards on which is registered “no vote”, the demonstrators reaffirmed their determination to continue mobilization. Outside of the capital, massive demonstrations took place notably in Bejaia, Tizi Ouzou, Oran, Annaba, Mostaganem, Setif and Biskra.
The ongoing rallies have exposed and to the open, the inability of the regime to convince the population to vote. And by now, Army chief Gaid Salah and his generals are fully aware that there will be no foot traffic in voting boots on Thursday. Indeed, sources at the Ministry of Defense said that the military command has commissioned a confidential report to assess the 12 December election turnout. The report has been submitted to them early this week and has apparently given the generals a cold chill. The report says abstention for the whole country is expected to be 75-80%. The Kabylie region will witness 100% abstention rate. Despite this massive rejection, the military is determined to go ahead with the vote.
