Bouteflika Confirms Algeria Vote Candidacy in Rare TV Remarks

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika told Algerian television Monday he has registered as a candidate for reelection, in his first public remarks since he suffered a mini stroke in April 2013.

"I came to officially submit my application in accordance with article 74 of the constitution and the electoral law," said the 77-year-old who is bidding for a fourth term in the April 17 election.

Article 74 says the "president of the republic is re-electable," and effectively removed limits on the number of terms in office the head of state could serve, allowing Bouteflika to stand for win a third mandate in 2009.

In the footage broadcast by Algerian television, Bouteflika appeared sitting in an armchair facing the head of the constitutional council, Mourad Medelci.

His voice was barely audible as he made his statement, and quickly cut to the president adding his signature to the declaration of his candidacy.

Bouteflika has not made any public addresses since returning home from France in July after treatment for a mini stroke. He has also received only a few foreign dignitaries and chaired just two cabinet meetings.

He is the fifth candidate to have registered to run in the presidential elections ahead of the midnight Tuesday deadline.

The other candidates to register before him were Moussa Touati of the Algerian National Front (FNA), Abdelaziz Belad of the El-Moustakbel Front (FM), head of the Algerian Rally Ali Zaghdoud, and the Workers Party's Louisa Hanoune.