Abdelmadjid Tebboune Secures Landslide Victory in Algerian Presidential Election

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been declared the winner of the presidential election, securing a significant victory amid low voter turnout and allegations of irregularities. The independent election authority announced on Sunday that Tebboune received 94.7% of the votes cast on Saturday, far ahead of his opponents. Islamist Abdelali Hassani Cherif garnered 3.2%, while socialist Youcef Aouchiche obtained 2.2%.

Election officials reported that 5.6 million out of approximately 24 million eligible voters participated in the election. This turnout is lower than the 39.9% recorded in the 2019 presidential election. The high abstention rate has sparked criticism from various quarters, including activists and international organizations like Amnesty International, who condemned the repressive atmosphere during the campaign.

Claims of Irregularities

Cherif's Movement of Society for Peace highlighted several irregularities, including failure to provide vote-sorting records to candidates' representatives and instances of proxy group voting. His campaign manager, Ahmed Sadok, criticized the election process, stating, "It's a shame. It's an attack on the image of Algeria, which will become the laughing stock of nations." Aouchiche's campaign did not immediately comment on the results.

Tebboune's victory comes five years after pro-democracy protests known as "Hirak" led to the ousting of his predecessor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The military played a crucial role in Bouteflika's removal after two decades in power. Tebboune's win was anticipated by many observers both within Algeria and internationally.

Comparisons with Other Elections

Tebboune's vote share surpasses that of other recent elections, such as Vladimir Putin's 87% in Russia and Ilham Aliyev's 92% in Azerbaijan. However, independent observers were not allowed to monitor Algeria's election, raising further questions about its legitimacy.

Despite some framing Tebboune's win as a success, including pro-Tebboune university professor Abdellaoui Djazouli who called it a "resounding endorsement," the low voter turnout suggests otherwise. Djazouli stated on public television, "The President has more legitimacy to continue his action to better establish his project for the new Algeria."

Public Reaction and Future Implications

The election process has outraged Tebboune's detractors, who view it as a means for political elites to maintain their grip on power. Activists and political parties had called for a boycott, fearing that participation would only legitimize "le pouvoir," a term used to describe the military-backed elites running the country.

Nassira Amour, a teacher and prominent figure in Algeria's pro-democracy movement, remarked on the low voter turnout: "The majority did not vote ... This electoral masquerade is a victory for the Hirak." The final figures showing low voter turnout are seen as a failure for the political establishment and a triumph for abstentionists.

Algeria is Africa's largest country by area and its second most populous nation after South Africa. The country is set to hold another presidential election in 2024, amid a global wave of over 50 elections involving more than half of the world's population.

Tebboune's reelection with 5.3 million votes exceeds his previous tally of 4.9 million in 2019 when he won with 58% of the vote. This time, his share outpaced his closest opponent by an even larger margin. Despite this apparent success, the low voter turnout remains a significant concern for Algeria's political future.