participate in the presidential election. 18 April 2019 cancelled election On 3 March 2019, a day after his 82nd birthday and while undergoing medical tests in Switzerland, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika formally submitted his candidacy, but said in a statement read on state TV that he would not serve a full term if re-elected. Instead, he promised to organise a national conference and set a date for an early election which he would not participate in. The announcement followed weeks of protests against his plan to seek a fifth term in office. A week later, on 11 March 2019, Bouteflika withdrew from the race and postponed the election. On 1 November 2018, journalist announced that he would be a candidate in the election. On 4 April 2019, Ali Ghediri, a former Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Defense, announced his candidacy. 4 July 2019 cancelled election The 4 July 2019 election had two candidates who applied: Abdelhakim Hamadi from Jijel, born 23 August 1965, who trained as a vet, worked in the state sector and became a businessman; and Hamid Touahri, an aeronautical mechanical engineer who worked in medical sales and construction and managed an audiovisual production firm. Both candidates' applications were lodged on 25 May, and later rejected by the Constitutional Council, which cancelled the election due to what it called the "impossibility" of organising the election. 12 December 2019 election Potential candidates Ahmed Gaid Salah and Noureddine Bedoui won't run. Former prime minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem was expected to be a candidate. The Tajamou Amel El-Djazaïr former minister Amar Ghoul (in prison at the time) announced his participation in the vote. 145 people picked up their application forms, including: Ali Benflis, former head of government; Abdelaziz Belaid, president of the El Moustakbal Front; Aissa Belhadi, president of the Front of Good Governance; Abdelkader Bengrina, president of the El-Bina Movement; Ali Zeghdoud, president of the Algerian Rally party; Mourad Arroudj, president of Errafah; Belkacem Sahli, president of the Republican National Alliance; Abdelmadjid Tebboune, former Prime Minister; Rabah Bencherif; Azzedine Mihoubi, former Minister of Culture; Rabah Bencherif; Souleymen Bakhlili, journalist; Ahmed Ben Nâamane, writer; Abderrahmane Arrar, coordinator of the Civil Force for Change. Candidates submitting nominations This list includes all the candidates who have deposited their candidacy file with the Independent National Elections Authority: Final candidates The list below is the final list of candidates for the presidentials of 12