Summary
The head of an Algerian political party that was part of the ruling coalition under former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika became the first candidate Wednesday to register for presidential polls.
A minister of culture in three governments under Bouteflika from 2015 to 2019, Mihoubi assumed leadership of the RND in July after its former head was arrested in a corruption probe.
The Hirak protest movement was formed in February to demand that Bouteflika resign instead of running for a fifth term.
Bensalah, also an RND member, was speaker of the Upper House for 17 years under Bouteflika.
The RND was founded in 1997 and for 20 years was the main ally of Bouteflika's National Liberation Front (FLN).
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