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Abdelaziz
Bouteflika was first elected president in 1999 (Image source: Bouteflika)
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Algeria's government has
released a new draft constitution that would limit presidents to two terms and
recognize the language used by Berber minorities as official. The draft, published in
state media Tuesday, is part of reforms promised by President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika and his government after Arab Spring uprisings in neighboring
countries in 2011.
The
constitution, which needs parliamentary approval, would limit presidents to two
five-year terms. Long-ailing Bouteflika was re-elected for a fourth term in
2014.
The
charter would also require a parliamentary majority to name a prime minister,
currently appointed by the president.
The draft includes Amazigh
as an official language in a move hailed by activists who had pushed for
recognition for years. It stipulates that Arabic would remain the official
government language.
Algeria's Bouteflika Proposes
Constitutional Amendments, Term Limits
In
May 2015, Reuters reported that Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
proposed a two-term presidential limit and delegating more authority to the
prime minister's post as part of constitutional amendments after his
re-election, a government source said on Thursday.
Bouteflika,
77, offered reforms to strengthen democracy after winning an April ballot to secure
his fourth five-year term in office despite suffering a stroke last year that
raised questions over his ability to govern.
Opponents
say politics in the North African OPEC oil producer has been mostly dominated
since the end of French colonial rule by the ruling Front de Liberation
Nationale party and the army, who resist any deep change.
The
source said the 47 proposed amendments, which were distributed to political
parties on Thursday, also included lifting controls on the media and giving
parliament more ability to question government officials.
Most
of Algeria's opposition leaders - including secular and Islamist rivals - have
already rejected Bouteflika's proposal, dismissing the invitation as a move to
co-opt them rather than an attempt at real reform.
The
Algerian leader's allies removed term limits on the presidency to allow him to
run for a third term five years ago.
Political
parties have been invited to debate the new reforms in June before the proposal
goes to the constitutional committee for review and likely a referendum for
final approval.
Bouteflika's ill health has
raised questions about a potential transition in Algeria, a major gas supplier
to Europe and a key ally in Washington's fight against Islamist militancy in
the Maghreb. 
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