Algerian Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salah on Monday said the presidential election scheduled for December 12 is going to move Algeria to a new stage.
“Presidential election is a passage that will lead our country to a new bright and promising stage,” Salah said in an address to troops and high-ranking military officials during a visit to the National Gendarmerie Command headquarters in Algiers.
He said under this hoped-for state, the Algerian people would be finally able to achieve their legitimate aspirations for a decent life.
He called for “utmost vigilance” to secure the election and enable citizens to cast their votes freely.
The presidential campaigns in Algeria wrapped up on Sunday, as five candidates are vying for the position. They are Azzedine Mihoubi (60), Abdelkader Bengrina (57), Abdelmadjid Tebboune (73), Ali Benflis (75) and Abdelaziz Belaid (56).
Algerians are divided over the election. Some think it is the only way to end the political crisis hitting the nation since February 22 while others still demand the departure of all figures of the regime of the ousted president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, before holding elections.
Algeria has seen wide-scale protests since February 22, forcing Bouteflika to resign on April 2.
