Algerian Presidential Election Results Challenged Amidst Allegations of Fraud
Claims of a rigged election have cast a shadow over Algeria’s recent presidential election, with two candidates filing legal challenges against the results that saw incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune secure a second term.
The December 9th election, which saw Tebboune win with a reported 95% of the vote, has been met with accusations of widespread irregularities. Both Abdelali Hassani Chérif of the Islamist Movement for Society for Peace (MSP) and Youcef Ouchiche of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) have lodged formal complaints with the Constitutional Council, alleging vote-rigging and manipulation of turnout figures.
Chérif, speaking to reporters, stated that his party possesses “evidence and indications proving that the announced results are contradictory in all their data, whether related to participation rates or results.” He further accused the election authority of committing a “full-fledged crime” that has “tarnished the image of the country and distorted the electoral process in the eyes of public opinion.”
Echoing these concerns, Ouchiche has demanded a recount in several provinces, citing “significant inflation in the participation rate and the votes cast.” He emphasized that the alleged irregularities “completely undermine the integrity of the elections, which we wanted to be a starting point for building legitimate institutions.”
These allegations are not without precedent. Algeria’s electoral history has been marred by accusations of fraud and a lack of transparency. The 2019 presidential election, which saw Tebboune first come to power, was also met with protests and accusations of manipulation.
Adding fuel to the fire, even Tebboune’s own campaign representative criticized the election authority in a joint statement with his rivals. The statement highlighted the “vagueness and inconsistency of the announced participation rates” and the lack of transparency surrounding the preliminary results.
The current situation raises serious concerns about the state of democracy in Algeria. With two of the five candidates alleging widespread fraud, the legitimacy of the election results is now in question. The Constitutional Council, tasked with reviewing the complaints, faces immense pressure to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. The outcome of this investigation will have significant implications for Algeria’s political future and the trust citizens have in their electoral system.
