Former Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis Announces Plans To Run For President In April

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published January 21, 2019 | 12:09 PM

Former Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis has announced his intention to register as a presidential candidate to participate in April's election in Algeria

CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st January, 2019) Former Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis has announced his intention to register as a presidential candidate to participate in April's election in Algeria.

"On Sunday, January 20, 2019, I sent a letter to the interior minister, in which I announced my intention to prepare my file as a candidate for the presidential election in the republic [of Algeria]," the ex-prime minister was quoted as saying by the Al Watan newspaper.

Benflis, 74, ran for president twice, in 2004 and 2014, but was both times defeated by incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

In 2000, Benflis headed Bouteflika's presidential campaign and took charge of the country's government that same year.

On Sunday, retired Gen. Ali Ghadiri announced his intention to enter the race as well.

On Friday, the Algerian presidential office announced that the election was scheduled to take place on April 18. Under local law, potential candidates have 45 days to register for the presidential race.