The Democratic National Rally (RND), the second ruling party in Algeria, on Thursday endorsed incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a fifth term.

"I can tell that RND will invite Bouteflika to continue his mission as head of state," said Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, who is also the secretary general of the RND, at the opening of the National Council of his party in Algiers.

"It is time to solve the issue of the presidential election because the next meeting of the National Council of our party will take place in December," he said.

This is not the first time for a ruling party to endorse Bouteflika for a new term.

On April 7, the first ruling party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), also invited Bouteflika to run for a fifth term.

However, many national figures sent a public letter to Bouteflika on May 26 requesting him to retire.

Bouteflika, 81, suffered a stroke in 2013 and was rushed to a military hospital in France for treatment. Since then, the ailing president has made rare public appearances.

Under Algeria's constitution, Bouteflika could run for a fifth term when his fourth term finishes in 2019.

Xinhua