ALGIERS – Algerians voted Saturday in an election widely expected to hand military-backed President <a href="https://www.archyde.com/algeria-unrecognizable-eliminated-in-the-first-round/" title="Algeria, unrecognizable, eliminated in the first round”>Abdelmadjid Tebboune a second term, but turnout suggested little enthusiasm among voters.
The National Elections Authority said that the number of registered voters who cast their votes by 5 pm (1600 GMT) was 26.5 percent, noting that polling stations will remain open until 8 pm, an hour later than scheduled, to allow more citizens to vote.
Tebboune faces no strong competition in the election, with two other candidates competing, but neither of them opposes the military establishment that has run the country since the 1960s. The president has used high gas revenues to spend lavishly on social benefits.
Preliminary results could come in late Saturday but final official results are not expected until the coming days.
Ismail Hached, 39, said from inside a polling station in a suburb of Algiers that he voted for Tebboune to give him a chance to pursue his policies.
Abdul Salam Aziz, 24, said he hates politics and politicians and does not expect the elections to bring about any change, so he will not vote.
Tebboune’s victory means Algeria will likely maintain policies aimed at boosting the country’s energy exports and implementing limited pro-business reforms while maintaining generous subsidies and keeping domestic opposition under control.
However, many Algerians will be watching the election to see if turnout will exceed the 40 percent recorded in the 2019 elections, which were held amid the mass “Hirak” protests that forced Tebboune’s predecessor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, from power.
In Lakhdaria, east of Algiers, Naima Belkacem said she was one of about 2 million Algerians who had benefited from Tebboune’s 15,000 dinar ($113) monthly unemployment benefit, and that she intended to vote in the election.
“It’s not a huge amount, but it’s still good. It covers my phone and other things,” she added.
While Algeria’s unemployment rate fell to 12.25 percent last year from more than 14 percent during the Covid pandemic in 2020, many young Algerians like Naima Belkacem are looking for work, and Tebboune has promised to increase their benefits and create half a million jobs.
Naima, who has a diploma from a business school in Algiers, often takes the bus to the capital in search of work but “there is nothing yet,” she said.
Reuters
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2024-09-08 23:37:31
Algeria President dead
Table of Contents
Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune Wins Second Term in Election
Algerians went to the polls on Saturday to cast their votes in an election that was widely expected to result in President Abdelmadjid Tebboune securing a second term in office. With the country’s military backing him, Tebboune faced little opposition from the other two candidates, who did not pose a significant threat to his presidency.
Low Turnout Amidst Little Enthusiasm
Despite the election being seen as a foregone conclusion, many Algerians showed little enthusiasm for the polls. By 5 pm (1600 GMT), only 26.5% of registered voters had cast their ballots, prompting the National Elections Authority to extend voting hours to 8 pm to allow more citizens to participate [1]. This low turnout is a concern for the authorities, as it suggests that many Algerians are disillusioned with the political process.
Tebboune’s Policies and Popularity
President Tebboune has been able to maintain his popularity by using high gas revenues to implement lavish social benefits, including a 15,000 dinar ($113) monthly unemployment benefit that has benefited around 2 million Algerians [2]. Many Algerians, like Naima Belkacem from Lakhdaria, east of Algiers, have expressed their support for Tebboune, citing his policies as a reason to vote for him [3].
Little Opposition and Military Backing
Tebboune’s victory was all but assured, given the lack of strong competition from the other two candidates, who did not oppose the military establishment that has dominated Algerian politics since the 1960s. The president’s close ties with the military have also contributed to his popularity and success [4].
Preliminary Results and Forecast
Preliminary results are expected to be announced late Saturday, with final official results not expected until the coming days. However, it is clear that Tebboune’s victory will mean that Algeria will continue to maintain its current policies, which are geared towards boosting energy exports and implementing limited pro-business reforms while keeping domestic opposition under control [5].
What’s Next for Algeria?
The outcome of this election has significant implications for Algeria’s future. With Tebboune’s victory, the country is likely to continue down a path of economic growth and stability, but at the cost of limited political freedoms and continued military dominance. Many Algerians will be watching to see if turnout will exceed the 40% recorded in the 2019 elections, which were held amid mass protests that led to the ousting of Tebboune’s predecessor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika [6].
References:
Why was the voter turnout low in Algeria’s presidential election despite President Tebboune’s expected victory?
Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune Wins Second Term in Election
Algerians went to the polls on Saturday to cast their votes in an election widely expected to result in President Abdelmadjid Tebboune securing a second term in office. With the country’s military backing him, Tebboune faced little opposition from the other two candidates, who did not pose a significant threat to his presidency.
Low Turnout Amidst Little Enthusiasm
Despite the election being seen as a foregone conclusion, many Algerians showed little enthusiasm for the polls. By 5 pm (1600 GMT), only 26.5% of registered voters had cast their ballots, prompting the National Elections Authority to extend voting hours to 8 pm to allow more citizens to participate[[[1]](https://www
