Algerians vote in parliamentary elections while facing cost-of-living strains and candidate bans
Summary
Algerians are voting in parliamentary elections amid worries about the rising cost of living and restrictions on some candidates. The government banned many opposition candidates and declared a paid holiday to encourage voting, but turnout is uncertain as many people focus on daily problems and the upcoming soccer World Cup.Key Facts
- Around 25 million Algerians can vote to elect 407 members of the lower house of Parliament.
- There are 1,235 candidates running for these seats.
- The government banned 269 candidates, including some linked to the Hirak pro-democracy movement.
- President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was re-elected for a second term in 2024 and has tightened political freedoms.
- Voter turnout is a concern because many citizens are more worried about economic issues than politics.
- The government declared election day a paid national holiday to boost turnout.
- Voting in some areas was moved earlier to help nomadic populations cast their ballots.
- The Algerian diaspora, especially in France, voted earlier with reportedly good participation.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.