Liked on YouTube: Algerians mark anniversary of "smile revolution"

Algerians mark anniversary of "smile revolution"

(21 Feb 2020) Algerians flooded into the streets of Algiers and other cities on the 53rd straight Friday of peaceful protests and the first anniversary of their "smile revolution" that unseated the North African nation's long-time president. The revolt also swept aside the former ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika's powerful entourage and struck hard at the corruption they had bred. The unprecedented pro-democracy movement is still hoping to make dents in the political establishment even if the tens of thousands of protesters in Algiers now appear less numerous than in the weeks after Feb. 22, 2019. Authorities in Algeria, a gas-rich nation that has failed to adequately provide for its booming and youthful population, know they can no longer ignore the citizens they represent, but there is no certainty about what the future will look like. New President Abdelmadjid Tebboune - once part of the old guard that ruled in an opaque system of governance since independence from France in 1962 - recently referred to the "blessed and peaceful popular uprising," and announced that Feb. 22, when the marches began last year, would be a national holiday. Tebboune has also promised deep reforms, including a revamped constitution with input from outside Algeria's circles of power, that will be put to a referendum and could be in place by the summer. However, many protesters say Tebboune's vows are not enough, and keep taking to the streets to push their demands and challenge the political leadership. Find out more about AP Archive: https://ift.tt/1CUvJt1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://ift.tt/2mlr9BZ Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/102011028589719587178/+APArchive​ Tumblr: https://aparchives.tumblr.com/​​ Instagram: https://ift.tt/2G5Qog8 You can license this story through AP Archive: https://ift.tt/2TiK9OT
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