ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) 鈥� Polls closed in Algeria on Saturday, where voters were deciding whether to grant army-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune another term 鈥� five years after pro-democracy protests prompted the military to oust the previous president after two decades in power.
Since Algeria announced the election date there has been little suspense about the result.
Though he is expected to be named the winner once the results are finalized, military-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said on Saturday after voting that he hoped 鈥渨hoever wins will continue on the path towards a point of no return in the construction of democracy.鈥�
Rather than who wins, the question is how many voters will stay home.
Tebboune's backers and challengers have all urged voters to come out to cast their ballots after boycotts and high abstention rates in previous elections marred the government's ability to claim popular support.
But throughout the day, many polling places in Algiers sat mostly empty, apart from scores of police officers manning their posts. Voters weren't queuing outside in the summer heat waiting to cast their ballots.
However, polling places were kept open until 9 p.m. on Saturday after officials extended the voting period to accommodate concerns that people may not have voted during the day in certain parts of the country due to the heat. As of 5 p.m., voter turnout was 26.5% in Algeria and 18.3% for precincts abroad.
Vote counting has begun and preliminary results are expected late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
is Africa's largest country by area and, with almost 45 million people, it's the continent's second most populous after to hold presidential elections in 2024 鈥� a year in which are being held worldwide, encompassing more than half the world's population.
The campaign 鈥� rescheduled earlier this year to take place during North Africa's hot summer 鈥� has been characterized by apathy from the population, which continues to be plagued by high costs of living and drought that brought water shortages to some parts of the country.
鈥淯ncle Tebboune," as his campaign has framed the 78-year-old, after nearly a year of weekly 鈥淗irak鈥� demonstrations demanding the resignation of former . Their demands were met when Bouteflika resigned and was replaced by an interim government of his former allies, which called for elections later in the year.
Protestors , fearing candidates running that year each were close to the old regime and would derail dreams of a civilian-led, non-military state. Tebboune, a former prime minister seen as close to the military, won. But his victory was stained by boycotts and Election Day tumult, during which crowds sacked voting stations and police broke up demonstrations.
Throughout his tenure, Tebboune has used oil and gas revenue to boost some social benefits 鈥� including unemployment insurance as well as public wages and pensions 鈥� to calm discontent. To cement his legitimacy, Tebboune hopes more of the country's 24 million eligible voters participate in Saturday's election than in his first, when only 39.9% voted.
Many of the last election's boycotters remain unconvinced about elections ushering in change.
Activists and international organizations, including Amnesty International, have railed against how authorities continue prosecuting those involved in opposition parties, media organizations and civil society groups.
Some have as a rubber stamp exercise that can only entrench the status quo.
鈥淎lgerians don鈥檛 give a damn about this bogus election,鈥� said former Hirak leader Hakim Addad, who was banned from participating in politics three years ago. 鈥淭he political crisis will persist as long as the regime remains in place. The Hirak has spoken.鈥�
Twenty-six candidates submitted preliminary paperwork to run in the election, although only two were ultimately approved to challenge Tebboune.
Neither political novices, they avoided directly criticizing Tebboune on the campaign trail and, like the incumbent, emphasized participation.
Abdelali Hassani Cherif, a 57-year-old head of the Islamist party Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) has made populist , running on the slogan 鈥淥pportunity!鈥� Youcef Aouchiche, a 41-year-old former journalist running with the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), campaigned on a 鈥渧ision for tomorrow.鈥�
Both challengers and their parties risk losing backing from would-be supporters who think they're selling out by contributing to the idea that the election is democratic and contested.
Walking near a vote center in downtown Algiers, longtime FFS supporter Mhand Kasdi said his party had betrayed its ideals by putting forth a candidate for the first time since 1999.
鈥淚t is giving its backing to a rigged election,鈥� the 55-year-old gas station manager said, adding that Aouchiche and Hassani 鈥渁re going to help make the regime's candidate look good."
Voting in his hometown Saturday, Aouchiche called on Algerians to vote for him 鈥渢o give young people the confidence to put an end to the despair that drives them to take the boats of death in an attempt to reach the other side of the Mediterranean,鈥� referencing many who elect to migrate to Europe in search of opportunity rather than remain at home.
Andrew Farrand, the Middle East and North Africa director at the geopolitical risk consultancy Horizon Engage, said both challengers were more aimed at the 2025 legislative elections than the 2024 presidential contest. Because Algerian law funds political parties based on the number of seats they win in legislative elections, they hope campaigning positions them for a strong 2025 performance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a long game: How can I mobilize my base? How can I build up a campaign machine? And how can I get into the good graces of the authorities so that I can be in a position to increase my seats?鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen that in their choice not to overtly criticize president 鈥� paired with a very strong message to Algerians to come out and vote.鈥�
The Associated Press
