Citizens across Algeria cast their votes Thursday in parliamentary elections marked by economic anxieties and restrictions on opposition candidates. Over 24 million eligible voters are selecting from 1,235 contenders vying for 407 seats in the National People’s Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, which serves five-year terms.
Authorities have expressed concerns about low turnout after campaign events drew minimal public engagement. To boost participation, the government declared Thursday a paid national holiday. However, citizens appear more preoccupied with pressing socioeconomic issues, including declining purchasing power, deteriorating public services, and shrinking freedoms in politics, media, and labor unions.
Many voters are also distracted by the ongoing World Cup, where Algeria’s national team faces Switzerland in a decisive match Friday. The current pro-government majority, led by the long-ruling National Liberation Front (FLN), holds around 300 seats, while the Islamist MSP party remains the largest opposition force with 64 seats.
Notably, 269 candidates—including former leaders and activists from the Hirak pro-democracy movement that ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019—were barred from the race. The electoral authority cited “illicit financial ties” and “suspicious political activities” as reasons for the disqualifications. Critics argue these measures reflect tightened controls under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, re-elected in 2024.
Security presence was heightened at polling stations in Algiers, while special arrangements were made for remote regions. Voting in southern Algeria and the Sahara Desert was advanced by 48 hours to accommodate nomadic communities, with mobile ballot boxes transported via government off-road vehicles and escorted by police. Algerian expatriates, particularly in France, voted Saturday and Sunday at consular offices amid reports of high turnout and a “family-friendly” atmosphere.
To address staffing challenges, the government rescheduled end-of-year school exams to free up classrooms and teachers, who are typically recruited to work at polling sites. With traditional campaign rallies drawing sparse crowds, political groups have shifted to grassroots outreach, holding informal meetings in markets and cafes. A viral video last week showed a party leader struggling to convince a young voter to participate.
Key campaign themes include calls for higher pensions, wage increases, and opposition to mining reforms favoring foreign investors. The Socialist Forces Front, a leading democratic party, has emphasized demands for political prisoner releases and media liberalization, warning that election boycotts would benefit the government.
