Legislative in Algeria: 24 million voters called to the polls

Published on : 06/12/2021 – 07:27

Algerians go to the polls on Saturday for early legislative elections rejected by the Hirak protest movement and part of the opposition, against a backdrop of all-out repression.

The main stake is again participation after the previous electoral consultations, the presidential election of 2019 and the constitutional referendum of 2020, marked by a historic abstention.

The polling stations open from 8 a.m. local (7 a.m. GMT) to 7 p.m. local (6 p.m. GMT) for these first legislative elections since the unprecedented and peaceful popular uprising, born on February 22, 2019 from the rejection of a 5th term of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, pushed by two months later to resign after 20 years in office.

The official results are not expected before Sunday.

At the end of an apathetic campaign, the pro-government parties called for participating “in force” in the ballot, while the Hirak, which unsuccessfully calls for a radical change in the “system” of governance in place since independence (1962 ), immediately denounced an “electoral masquerade”.

Whatever happens, the authorities will put up with a possible strong abstention, while hoping for a participation rate between 40% and 50%.

Because he is determined to impose his electoral “road map”, ignoring the demands of Hirak – rule of law, democratic transition, popular sovereignty, independent justice.

Some 24 million Algerians are called upon to elect the 407 deputies of the National People’s Assembly for a five-year term. They have to choose from nearly 1,500 lists, more than half of which are displayed as “independent”.

“Perpetuate the system”

This is the first time that such a large number of independents have come forward against contenders endorsed by parties largely discredited and held responsible for the crisis in the country.

These newcomers, with a vague affiliation, could establish themselves as a new force with the approval of the authorities, which appealed to “young people” and encouraged their candidacies.

Especially since the secular and leftist opposition, in decline, chose to boycott the ballot.

As for the winners of the last legislative elections (2017), the National Liberation Front (FLN) and the National Democratic Rally (RND), associated with the era of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, they are now discredited.

We must also take into account the moderate Islamist movement which decided to take part in the ballot. Abderrazak Makri, the president of the Movement of the Society for Peace (MSP), close to the Muslim Brotherhood, said he was “ready to govern” in case of victory.

Some analysts even predict a relative majority for these moderate Islamist parties in the new assembly.

“According to a probable scenario, the political forces resulting from this election could regroup and form a coalition whose objective would be to perpetuate the system”, estimates the think tank International Crisis Group (ICG).

“Scary climbing”

As the election deadline approaches, the Chief of Staff, General Saïd Chengriha, warned against “any plan or action aimed at disrupting the conduct” of the vote.

Considered as a civilian facade of the military institution, the government has made efforts in recent months to stifle protest, banning demonstrations and increasing arrests and legal proceedings targeting opponents, activists, journalists and lawyers.

Believing that it has already responded to Hirak’s demands, the government has denied for several months any legitimacy to this movement without real leaders, which it accuses of being instrumentalized by “foreign parties”.

Some 222 people are currently imprisoned for acts related to Hirak and / or individual freedoms, according to the National Committee for the Release of Detainees.

For Human Rights Watch, which denounces a “frightening repressive escalation”, “the vague promises of openness and dialogue by President (Abdelmadjid) Tebboune are shattered against the reality of the repression”.

With AFP