Algerians vote for new president amid low campaign enthusiasm

Casting of ballots commenced in Algeria as citizens vote for president, determining the future leadership of their gas-rich nation.

The election comes five years after mass protests led to the military ousting the previous president, who had held power for two decades.

Algeria’s presidential election is significant being Africa’s largest country by land area and second-most populous nation.

However, with military-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expected to win easily against his two opponents – an Islamist and a leftist – the campaign has generated little excitement.

Despite this, state-run television has presented a vibrant image of the election season, with mandatory coverage of candidate appearances. “Voting has no meaning in Algeria like in the big democracies,” 28-year-old Kaci Taher told The Associated Press a month before the election. “Where I come from, the results and quotas are fixed in advance in the back room of the government, so what’s the point of taking part in the electoral farce?”

“Uncle Tebboune,” as his campaign has framed the 78-year-old, was elected in December 2019 after nearly a year of weekly demonstrations demanding the resignation of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

In this year’s presidential election, Abdelmadjid Tebboune is running as an independent candidate, backed by several political parties, including the National Liberation Front, which has been a dominant force in Algerian politics since the country gained independence from France in 1962.

Initially, 26 candidates expressed interest in running, but only two were ultimately approved to challenge Tebboune. Like the president, they have focused on encouraging voter turnout. Both challengers are experienced politicians who have avoided directly criticizing Tebboune during the campaign.