President Abdelaziz Bouteflika broke with tradition by making the announcement directly to Algerians instead of convening the electoral college to set the date.
He said Thursday the elections would pave the way to rebuilding the Algerian state to one characterized by good governance and social justice.
Bouteflika promised a clean election with surveillance carried out by representatives of the political parties as well as an independent political commission.
International observers also will be allowed to monitor the contests.
The president exhorted the political parties and unions to mobilize the electorate — turnout in the last elections was just 36%.

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