Algeria’s Election: Low Voter Turnout Raises Questions About Tebboune’s Mandate
Algeria’s Election Apathy: A Sign of Deeper Discontent?
Algeria’s recent presidential election saw a distinct lack of enthusiasm, with preliminary results indicating a voter turnout of just under 48%. This apathy comes despite a predictable outcome, with incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune widely expected to secure a second term.
Several factors contributed to this lackluster participation. Analysts point to a lackluster election campaign, with President Tebboune holding only a handful of rallies. His two opponents, Abdelali Hassani Chérif of the Islamist Movement for Society for Peace (MSP) and Youssef Ousiche, a veteran journalist representing the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), failed to generate significant public interest.
This sense of disillusionment is not new. The 2019 election, which brought Tebboune to power, saw a record low turnout of 60%. This apathy was largely attributed to the Hirak protest movement, a massive wave of demonstrations calling for democratic reforms and a complete overhaul of the political system. Many parties boycotted the vote, further contributing to the low turnout.
This year, the prevailing sentiment among many Algerians seems to be ”what’s the point?” With Tebboune’s victory seemingly preordained, many citizens saw little incentive to participate in a process they perceived as predetermined. This sentiment was echoed by Hasni Abidi, director of the Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World (CERMAM) in Geneva, who noted that for many voters, “What is the point of voting if all the forecasts are in favor of the president?”
While Tebboune enjoys the support of major parliamentary parties, including the National Liberation Front (FLN) and the Islamist MSP, the low voter turnout raises questions about the legitimacy of his mandate and the future of Algerian democracy. Can Tebboune bridge the gap between the government and a disillusioned populace? Only time will tell if his second term will address the root causes of this growing political apathy.
