By Abdulrazzak Abdullah
ALGIERS (AA) – Algeria's former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune took the oath of office on Thursday after winning the presidential election.
The presidential ceremony was held at the International Conferences Center where Kamal Fneish, head of the Constitutional Council, announced official results and declared Tebboune's victory to rule the country for next five years.
In his speech, Tebboune said that "the popular movement [protests] has stopped the collapse of the state and its institutions."
"I renew my commitment to reach out to everyone in order to achieve the remaining aspirations within the framework and the laws of the Republic and we must close the page of differences and discrimination," Tebboune added.
Tebboune won the presidential polls held last Thursday by gaining 58.15% of the votes to succeed Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in April after mass protests against his 20-year rule.
Tebboune, 74, served only for 81 days as prime minister before being removed in August 2017.
Tebboune held several ministerial positions, including the portfolios of culture and communication in 1999 and housing and urban affairs in 2000-2001.
He was appointed in different administrative positions and served three times as mayor of Tiaret, Adrar, and Tizi Ouzou provinces between 1984 and 1991.
Regarded by many as one of the symbols of the Bouteflika regime, Tebboune pledged during his electoral campaign that his political program will meet the demands of protesters.
*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara
