[3] Bouteflika named a caretaker government on 31 March, and shortly after Algerian Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah called on him to leave office two days later, he formally relinquished power.

[2][3] Tensions towards Bouteflika arose in part out of public discontent with his 20-year record as president, which was often characterized by corruption and allegations of using state monopolies to finance systems of clientelism,[4] and can also be traced back to a broader pattern of frustration with the powers of the Algerian government.

[3] Additionally, Bouteflika's health in regards to his ability to govern was consistently called into question after his stroke in 2013, where his frequent hospitalization and few public appearances led to the proliferation of rumors about his death.

[5] The presidential election was held on 12 December 2019 despite widespread public opposition,[6] and with 58.13% of valid votes in the first round, Abdelmadjid Tebboune was declared its winner.

[7] Additionally, 1,200 protestors were detained by Algerian authorities in connection to protests of the election, and by later that December, the National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD) estimated that 180 prisoners of conscience still remained in government custody.

"[14] Notably, the government's actions were condemned by Amnesty International, which said in a statement that "when all eyes [...] are on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Algerian authorities are devoting time to speeding up the prosecution and trial of activists, journalists, and supporters of the Hirak movement.

[16] On 28 December 2019 recently inaugurated President Tebboune met with Ahmed Benbitour, the former Algerian Head of Government, with whom he discussed the "foundations of the new Republic.

[32] Under the proposed revision, the National Independent Electoral Authority (ANIE) would be constitutionalized in an effort to promote democracy, improve election security, and combat corruption.

[30] Military interventions would require a two-thirds majority in parliament and would take place under the supervision of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League.

[35] Despite the proposed reforms, Tebboune and the Algerian government faced criticism that the revised constitution did not address many of the issues called into question by the Hirak Movement, especially the balance of powers.

[27] The executive branch would retain its power to appoint judges to the judiciary without parliamentary approval, raising questions about its objectivity and ability to foster accountability.