Voters in Algeria are casting ballots in parliamentary elections marked by widespread concerns over the cost of living and a government decision to ban numerous candidates who might challenge its authority.
Nearly 25 million registered voters across Algeria, the largest country in Africa by territory, are choosing from 1,235 candidates for 407 seats in the lower house of Parliament, which holds five-year terms. The government declared Thursday a paid national holiday in an effort to boost voter turnout, which has been a significant concern after voters largely abstained from campaign events.
Instead of electoral politics, many Algerians are focused on daily challenges such as the declining purchasing power and the deterioration of public services. These issues are playing out against a backdrop of diminishing freedoms in political discourse, media, and union activities.
Some Algerians are also preoccupied with the FIFA World Cup, where the national team is scheduled to play a knockout match against Switzerland early Friday.
The outgoing parliamentary majority, largely aligned with the government, currently holds around 300 seats. The Islamist MSP party is the second-largest political force with 64 seats.
Among the 269 candidates barred from running were former leaders and activists of the Hirak pro-democracy movement, which was instrumental in the 2019 ousting of long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. His successor, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, reelected in 2024, has overseen an increased restriction of freedoms. The electoral authority stated that the rejected candidates were banned due to alleged "links to illicit financial networks" and "suspicious political activities."
Security measures were implemented at polling stations in the capital, Algiers, on Wednesday. In southern Algeria and the Sahara Desert regions, voting commenced 48 hours earlier to accommodate nomadic populations. Ballots were transported in administrative off-road vehicles and escorted by police in Land Rovers.
Voting for the Algerian diaspora, comprising approximately 854,225 registered voters, particularly in France, took place on Saturday and Sunday at various consular offices. The state news agency APS reported high turnout and a "family atmosphere" among these expatriate voters.
The government also advanced the dates of end-of-year school examinations to free up classrooms and teachers, who are typically enlisted to staff polling stations in exchange for a daily allowance.
With campaign venues largely empty, parties and independent candidates have resorted to "grassroots meetings" in streets, markets, and popular cafes. One widely viewed video broadcast last week showed a political party leader attempting unsuccessfully to persuade a young man to vote.
Parties continued their campaigns, with the presidential majority, led by the long-serving FLN party, urging broad turnout to strengthen Algeria's domestic position amidst geopolitical challenges. The Trotskyist opposition Workers' Party is advocating for increased pensions and wages and is opposing reforms in the mining sector that would favor foreign investors. The head of the Socialist Forces Front, a significant party within the democratic movement, is calling for the release of political prisoners and for freer media, while also advising voters that boycotting the elections would benefit the government.