Algerian president visits Geneva for medical checkup

By Hassan

ALGIERS

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday left for Geneva for his "periodic medical examinations", according to the Algerian official news agency.

"President of the republic left Algiers on Monday, 27 2018, heading to Geneva (Switzerland) to undergo periodic medical examinations," Algerian official news agency (APS) quoted from a presidential statement.

Bouteflika, 81, suffered a stroke in April 2013, which made him unable to move and deliver speeches.

He became the first elected president of Algeria in 1999. He won his fourth term in office in April 2014.

His supporters say that despite his difficult health status, Bouteflika is "following all the state affairs," something rejected by the Algerian opposition.

Algerian presidential elections are likely to be held in April or May 2019.

Bouteflika, who is about to complete his fourth term, has not announced his position on calls for his candidacy for a fifth term.

Parties and opposition figures, however, call on the Algerian president to not run for a fifth term, due to his current health status.