The parliamentary elections in Algeria, held on Thursday, have occurred amidst significant concerns over the cost of living and the disqualification of candidates challenging the government. Nearly 25 million Algerians, in the continent’s largest country by size, are choosing from 1,235 candidates to fill 407 seats in the lower chamber of Parliament, with each term lasting five years.
Encouraging voter turnout is a key issue, as many have shown little interest in the campaign events. To increase participation, the government has declared Thursday a paid public holiday. However, many citizens seem more focused on everyday concerns such as purchasing power and declining public services, as political, media, and union freedoms are increasingly restricted.
Meanwhile, football enthusiasts are looking forward to the World Cup, where Algeria will compete against Switzerland for a chance to advance to the next round early on Friday. The current parliamentary majority, aligned with the government, holds around 300 seats. The Islamist MSP party remains the second-largest political force, with 64 seats.
Out of 269 candidates who were banned from participating, some belonged to the MSP and others were former leaders and activists of the pro-democracy Hirak movement, which played a significant role in the ousting of long-standing autocratic leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019. Since then, freedoms have steadily diminished under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who secured re-election for a second term set for 2024.
The electoral authority stated that disqualifications were due to “links with illicit financial networks” and “suspicious political activities.” Security measures were intensified near polling stations in the capital, Algiers, on the eve of the election. In southern regions and the Sahara desert, voting was advanced by two days to accommodate the nomadic population, utilizing government SUVs escorted by police in Land Rovers.
In the Algerian diaspora, about 854,225 registered voters, predominantly in France, cast their ballots on Saturday and Sunday at various consular offices. The state news agency APS described the participation in these locations as high, with a “family atmosphere.”
To facilitate the election process, the government also rescheduled end-of-year school exams, freeing classrooms and teachers who traditionally manage polling stations for a daily stipend.
Faced with largely empty campaign venues, political parties and independent candidates turned to grassroots meetings in streets, markets, and popular cafes to engage with citizens. A recently circulated video showcased a political party leader unsuccessfully urging a young man to vote. Still, parties remain active in their campaigns.
The presidential majority, led by the long-established FLN party, seeks broad participation to solidify Algeria’s internal stance against geopolitical challenges. The opposition Workers’ Party promotes increased pensions and wages, opposing mining sector reforms that favor foreign investors. Meanwhile, the Socialist Forces Front leader, representing the main democratic movement, calls for political prisoners’ release, greater press freedoms, and argues that boycotting elections would only strengthen the government.
The election authority based candidate disqualifications on an anti-corruption law that has previously uncovered instances where parliamentary seats were allegedly purchased with funds linked to drug trafficking, corruption, and tax evasion. Those affected argue that the law was either unjustly applied or used for political reasons. Abdelahab Yagoubi, an Islamist legislator representing the Algerian diaspora, could not seek re-election due to the law, despite having supported it initially.
Said Oulhadj, a 62-year-old primary school principal from a mountain village, wanted to run with the independent party Thagmats (Fraternity) but was barred. “I have nothing to do with dirty money,” he told The Associated Press. “The electoral authority has tarnished my reputation and honor. How will my students, their parents, and my colleagues see me?”
Karim Khelfane, the electoral authority president, defended the institution, noting that almost 70% of candidacies were approved, and some legislators who initially voted for the anti-corruption law are ineligible for a second term.