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Abdelkader Bensalah

Abdelkader Bensalah was a prominent Algerian political figure who served as the interim president of Algeria from April 2019 to December 2019. A seasoned diplomat and senior official, he held various roles, including president of the Algerian Senate. His leadership emerged during a critical transitional period in Algeria, following the resignation of long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Bensalah's tenure was marked by efforts to oversee the country's political stability amid widespread protests.

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Abdelkader Bensalah (1941–2021) was an Algerian politician who played a significant role in the country's political landscape, particularly during periods of transition. He was born on November 24, 1941, in Fellaoucene, Tlemcen Province, Algeria, and grew up during the time when Algeria was a French colony. His early life was marked by Algeria's struggle for independence, which was achieved in 1962, when Bensalah was in his early twenties.


Bensalah's career in politics began soon after Algeria's independence. He entered the diplomatic service in the 1970s, holding various posts that provided him with international exposure. He later transitioned to journalism, becoming the director of the Arabic-language daily *El Chaâb*, a newspaper that focused on political and social issues. His background in both diplomacy and journalism gave him a comprehensive understanding of domestic and international affairs, which helped shape his later political career.


In 1997, Bensalah became a key figure in Algerian politics when he was elected as the President of the National People's Assembly, the lower house of Algeria's parliament. He held this position until 2002, demonstrating his ability to navigate the complexities of Algeria's political system, which was heavily influenced by the military and dominated by the National Liberation Front (FLN) party. Following his term as head of the lower house, Bensalah was appointed as the Speaker of the Council of the Nation, Algeria's upper house of parliament, in 2002. He held this influential position for an extended period, serving until 2019.


Bensalah's most notable moment came during Algeria's political crisis in 2019. Long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced to resign following mass protests, known as the Hirak movement, which called for sweeping reforms and an end to corruption. In the aftermath of Bouteflika's resignation, Bensalah, as the leader of the Council of the Nation, was constitutionally mandated to serve as Algeria's interim president. He assumed the presidency on April 9, 2019, with the task of overseeing a transitional period until new elections could be held.


His tenure as interim president was marked by significant political challenges. The Hirak movement continued to demand deeper reforms, and many demonstrators viewed Bensalah as part of the old political elite, resistant to the change they sought. Nonetheless, Bensalah managed to organize a presidential election, which took place on December 12, 2019. Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected president, and Bensalah stepped down from his interim role following Tebboune's inauguration.


After leaving office, Bensalah largely withdrew from public life. He passed away on September 22, 2021, at the age of 79. His legacy is intertwined with both the stability and the controversies of Algeria's political system during his time in office. While some saw him as a steady hand during periods of uncertainty, others viewed him as emblematic of the old guard, which the Hirak movement sought to displace.


REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdelkader_Bensalah

GOVERNING TIME LINE

Abdelkader Bensalah served as Algeria's Acting President from April 2, 2019, to December 19, 2019. He assumed office following the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika amidst widespread protests and political turmoil. As the President of the Council of the Nation (the upper house of Parliament), Bensalah was constitutionally designated to take over in a caretaker capacity. His tenure focused on navigating the country through a period of unrest and organizing a presidential election. He left office on December 19, 2019, when Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected as Algeria's new president, bringing Bensalah’s interim leadership to an end.

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