Algeria held its first legislative election in two years but had its lowest voter turnout in twenty. “I’ve never voted, and this time it’s no different. I don’t believe it would change anything,” said Fatiha, a shopkeeper from Algiers.
In 2019, an activist movement, Hirak, forced Algeria’s president of twenty years from power. Algeria is facing declining oil revenue and unemployment over 12%, and many see old guard politicians as the problem. In 2019, voter turnout was low—only about 40% of eligible voters participated but it was even lower this year—only 30% of voters showed. Most are frustrated that nothing has changed in the two years since the ouster and this election is unlikely to change that. Despite 13,000 candidates running for 407 parliamentary seats, the FLN—the same party that has ruled Algeria since 1962—received the most seats.
Elections have to produce results to be credible—they have to solve persistent problems, including getting rid of unwanted politicians. Otherwise, authoritarianism becomes more attractive to the populace. Algeria’s election credibility was further reduced when the Army cracked down on opposition leaders just prior to it, sending seven to jail. Said Chengriha, Armed Forces Chief of Staff and the man viewed by many to be the real power in the country, said that this was necessary to stop any “action aimed at disrupting” the vote.
In the end, the ruling FLN party did not win a majority of seats in parliament, so it will have to form a coalition government. It is unclear whether doing so will break the ice and allow reforms in Africa’s fourth largest economy. Yet the public remains skeptical. “Elections in Algeria have always proved that they are not the solution. The solution lies in democratic transition, it also lies in a dialogue around a table in order to solve the crisis,” said activist Sofiane Haddadji.
Sources:
Siobhan O’Grady, “In Algeria, ‘Indifference” to Legislative Election,” 13 June 2021.
News Wires, “Turnout at lowest in 20 years in divisive Algerian parliamentary elections,” 13 June 2021, accessed from https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210613-turnout-at-lowest-in-20-years-as-algeria-votes-in-parliamentary-elections
“Low turnout as Algerians vote in parliamentary election,” Al Jazeera, 13 June 2021, accessed from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/12/algerians-vote-in-parliamentary-election
Photo: Ramzi Boudina (Reuters)