Algeria’s Presidential Election Results Spark Controversy and Criticism

Disputed Election Results in Algeria: President Tebboune Faces Criticism

Following his electoral victory in Algeria, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune found himself under fire from both his rivals and various political observers. The criticism centered around the National Independent Election Authority (ANIE), which announced results that starkly contradicted earlier turnout figures and local tallies, casting a shadow over what initially appeared to be a decisive reelection for the 78-year-old leader.

On Sunday, ANIE proclaimed that Tebboune had secured a remarkable 94.7% of the votes cast in Saturday’s election. His opponents, Islamist candidate Abdelali Hassani Cherif and socialist contender Youcef Aouchiche, received 3.2% and 2.2% of the votes respectively. However, just hours after the announcement, both Cherif and Aouchiche joined Tebboune in issuing a joint statement that questioned the integrity of the election process. They accused the election authority of presenting contradictory results and raised concerns about the reliability of the reported outcomes.

Officials had initially reported a voter turnout of 48% when the polls closed, a figure that was met with skepticism. Before the three candidates expressed their doubts, Cherif and Aouchiche had already indicated discrepancies based on their own tallies. This situation leaves the future uncertain, as it remains to be seen whether these irregularities will prompt legal challenges or delay the final certification of the election results.

According to election officials, approximately 5.6 million out of Algeria’s 24 million registered voters participated in the election. Such a high abstention rate, if confirmed, would exceed the 39.9% turnout recorded in the 2019 presidential elections, further complicating the narrative of a successful electoral process.

Abstention: A Message Against the Political Elite

Tebboune, often viewed as the candidate favored by the military establishment, initially won his first term in 2019 amidst widespread public discontent and a massive boycott of the electoral process. During that election, protests erupted, with demonstrators storming voting stations and law enforcement intervening to disperse crowds.

The president’s overwhelming victory has sparked skepticism regarding the authenticity of the election results and has drawn criticism from pro-democracy activists. These activists have long argued that elections in Algeria serve as a facade for the political elites to project an illusion of popular support. Many observers assert that the loudest message emerging from this election comes from those who chose to abstain, fearing that participating would only serve to legitimize the entrenched military-backed elites, colloquially referred to as “le pouvoir.”

“The vast majority of the Algerian populace has effectively delivered ‘le pouvoir’ a lesson in democracy,” remarked Nassira Amour, an educator and prominent figure in Algeria’s pro-democracy movement. “The majority opted not to vote… This electoral charade is a triumph for the Hirak,” she added, referencing the grassroots movement that emerged in 2019 advocating for democratic reforms.

The Hirak protests erupted in 2019 following then-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s announcement of his intention to run for a fifth term. The military intervened, leading to Bouteflika’s resignation shortly thereafter. The interim government that followed was pressured by military leaders to conduct elections later that same year, a move that angered demonstrators who viewed it as an attempt to placate the public without addressing calls for a transition to civilian governance.

In a recent statement, Amnesty International condemned Algeria’s “brutal crackdown on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association,” particularly in the lead-up to the country’s presidential elections.

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• President Abdelmadjid Tebboune dominates Algeria election, winning 94% of votes
• Algeria election: Turnout low after opposition calls for a boycott