Algeria to vote in test of post-Hirak political landscape
Summary
Algerians will vote on July 2 to elect 407 members of the People’s National Assembly in a parliamentary election seen as a test of political change since the 2019 Hirak protests. While President Abdelmadjid Tebboune says the vote supports building a “new Algeria,” critics say political power remains concentrated and opposition voices face restrictions.Key Facts
- Over 24.7 million Algerians, including around 854,000 living abroad, are eligible to vote.
- The election follows the 2019 Hirak protest movement that led to the resignation of long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
- The ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) and its ally, the National Democratic Rally (RND), are competing against opposition and independent parties.
- The electoral system allows voters to choose party lists and express preferences for individual candidates.
- Voter turnout in the 2021 election was very low, at just 23 percent, showing public disengagement.
- Human rights groups have criticized restrictions on opposition activity, media, and civil society; the government denies these claims.
- Economic issues like jobs, inflation, and housing are central to the campaign and voter concerns.
- Algeria’s economy depends heavily on oil and gas exports, making government spending vulnerable to changes in global energy prices.
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