Algeria’s 78-year-old president is expected to breeze to a second term in election

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.

Presidential candidate of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), Abdelali Hassani Cherif, prepares to cast his ballot inside a polling station during the presidential election. (AP)

However, polling places were kept open until 9 pm 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 pm, voter turnout was 26.5 per cent in Algeria and 18.3 per cent for precincts abroad. Vote counting has begun and preliminary results are expected late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Algeria is Africa’s largest country by area and, with almost 45 million people, it’s the continent’s second most populous after South Africa to hold presidential elections in 2024 — a year in which more than 50 elections are being held worldwide, encompassing more than half the world’s population.

The campaign — rescheduled earlier this year to take place during North Africa’s hot summer — has been characterised 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.

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

Protesters opposed holding elections too soon, 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.

Ballots showing the three presidential candidates are placed on a table inside a polling station during the presidential election. (AP)

Throughout his tenure, Tebboune has used oil and gas revenue to boost some social benefits — including unemployment insurance as well as public wages and pensions — 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 per cent 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 organisations and civil society groups. Some have denounced this election as a rubber stamp exercise that can only entrench the status quo.

Algerians don’t give a damn about this bogus election,” said former Hirak leader Hakim Addad, who was banned from participating in politics three years ago. “The political crisis will persist as long as the regime remains in place. The Hirak has spoken.” 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 criticising Tebboune on the campaign trail and, like the incumbent, emphasized participation.

A voter poses for a photo with her inked finger after casting her ballot inside a polling station during the presidential elections. (AP)

Abdelali Hassani Cherif, a 57-year-old head of the Islamist party Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) has made populist appeals to Algerian youth, running on the slogan “Opportunity!” Youcef Aouchiche, a 41-year-old former journalist running with the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), campaigned on a “vision for tomorrow”.

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.

“It is giving its backing to a rigged election,” the 55-year-old gas station manager said, adding that Aouchiche and Hassani “are going to help make the regime’s candidate look good”.

Voting in his hometown Saturday, Aouchiche called on Algerians to vote for him “to 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,” referencing many who elect to migrate to Europe in search of opportunity rather than remain at home.