Key facts
- Algerians are voting in parliamentary elections on Thursday.
- Nearly 25 million voters are eligible to choose from 1,235 candidates for 407 parliamentary seats.
- Cost-of-living concerns and bans on candidates are overshadowing the elections.
- Many candidates, including former pro-democracy movement figures, were disqualified.
- The government declared Thursday a paid national holiday to boost voter turnout.
Algerians are participating in parliamentary elections on Thursday, with turnout being a significant concern amid widespread cost-of-living issues and the disqualification of numerous candidates. Approximately 25 million voters are eligible to select from 1,235 candidates vying for 407 seats in the lower house of Parliament.
Many citizens appear more preoccupied with economic struggles, such as purchasing power and the deterioration of public services, than with the electoral process. The government has declared Thursday a paid national holiday in an effort to encourage higher voter participation. The political landscape is further complicated by the banning of 269 candidates, including former leaders and activists of the Hirak pro-democracy movement, who were reportedly disqualified due to "links to illicit financial networks" and "suspicious political activities."
Security measures were implemented in the capital, Algiers, ahead of the vote. In remote southern and Sahara Desert regions, voting commenced 48 hours earlier to accommodate nomadic populations, with ballot boxes transported by off-road vehicles and escorted by police. The Algerian diaspora, numbering over 854,000 registered voters, particularly in France, cast their ballots over the weekend with high turnout reported.
Campaigning has largely shifted to grassroots meetings in streets, markets, and cafes due to empty official venues. The outgoing pro-government majority, led by the FLN party, is urging a strong turnout to bolster Algeria's domestic standing amidst geopolitical challenges. Meanwhile, the Trotskyist opposition Workers’ Party is advocating for improved pensions and wages and opposing reforms in the mining sector that favor foreign investors. The Socialist Forces Front is calling for the release of political prisoners and greater media freedom, suggesting that boycotting the elections would benefit the government.