Tebboune wins Algerian election with 94.7% amid low turnout

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been declared the winner of the presidential election, securing a landslide victory amidst allegations of voter irregularities and low turnout. The independent election authority announced on Sunday that Tebboune garnered 94.7% of the votes cast on Saturday. His nearest rival, Islamist Abdelali Hassani Cherif, received 3.2%, while socialist Youcef Aouchiche managed 2.2%.

The military’s significant influence in Algeria’s politics is likely to amplify claims from pro-democracy activists who argue that elections serve to create a facade of popular support. Tebboune’s re-election follows the 2019 ousting of his predecessor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, after two decades in power, a move prompted by the “Hirak” pro-democracy protests.

Tebboune’s victory was anticipated both domestically and internationally. His vote share surpasses the 87% won by Vladimir Putin in Russia and the 92% by Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan. The election saw a turnout of 5.6 million out of approximately 24 million eligible voters, indicating a high abstention rate. This figure would exceed the 39.9% turnout of the 2019 election.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune re-elected with an impressive 94.65% of the vote

Tebboune, whose campaign was backed by the military, to increase spending in social welfare schemes@saroyahem brings you this report pic.twitter.com/5pF80LYCre

— WION (@WIONews) September 9, 2024

Tebboune’s opponents and international bodies, including Amnesty International, criticized the election process, citing a repressive campaign atmosphere and the harassment of opposition figures and media. They condemned the election as merely reinforcing the existing power structure. Cherif’s Movement of Society for Peace highlighted irregularities, including the non-delivery of vote-sorting records and pressure on poll workers. Cherif’s campaign manager, Ahmed Sadok, labelled the election results as disgraceful and damaging to Algeria’s image.

In contrast, Tebboune’s supporters, like university professor Abdellaoui Djazouli, hailed the outcome as a strong endorsement of his agenda. He noted that Tebboune’s increased vote count from 4.9 million in 2019 to 5.3 million this year reflects growing support.

Despite these claims of success, the low voter turnout signifies a setback for the political establishment and a win for abstentionists, with four out of five voters abstaining. Tebboune and his challengers had all aimed for higher voter participation, while other activists and parties called for a boycott, fearing the election would only legitimise the military-backed elites known as “le pouvoir.”

Nassira Amour, a prominent pro-democracy advocate, stated that the low turnout was a democratic lesson for the ruling elites. She deemed the electoral process a charade and a victory for the Hirak movement.

Algeria, Africa’s largest country by area and the second most populous after South Africa, is set to hold presidential elections in 2024. This year will see over 50 elections worldwide, covering more than half of the global population.