Protesters in Algeria’s capital Algiers on March 22, 2019 – the fifth Friday of protests that would continue for over a year. Demonstrators called for reforms, including democratic elections in Algeria. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Anistmz (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Algeria held a presidential election on September 7, 2024. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was overwhelmingly re-elected amid low turnout and a general sense of apathy. 

Political Context

Algerian politics have for a long time been dominated by “Le Pouvoir,” a small group of elite from the military and the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) party. 

In the 2019 presidential election, incumbent longtime strongman Abdelaziz Bouteflika, aged 82 and unable to walk or talk, was nevertheless going to run for a fifth term. However, tens of thousands of Algerians protested in the streets for two months. Bouteflika subsequently resigned, under pressure from the military, and did not run in the election, which ultimately took place in December 2019.

All five 2019 presidential candidates had ties to the Bouteflika regime. Ultimately, former prime minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune won with nearly 60 percent of the vote. However, turnout was low, and protesters said the vote was neither free nor fair. Moreover, the army remains the real center of power. Although the government has prosecuted some members of the Bouteflika regime for corruption, the power dynamic remained largely unchanged.

Consequently, protests continued. Algeria held snap elections on June 12, 2021, following more than two years of protests by the Hirak movement. However, the government’s election plan has not actually satisfied the Hirak, who continued to take to the streets and have decided to boycott the elections. The absence of the Hirak, who are mostly secular, from the elections has paved the way for Islamist parties to become the main opposition.

These elections follow more than two years of protests by the Hirak protest movement, in which Algerians protested weekly throughout the country for over a year (stopping only due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Protesters called for, among other things, democratic elections in Algeria. However, the government’s election plan has not actually satisfied the Hirak, who continue to take to the streets and boycotted the elections. The absence of the Hirak, who are mostly secular, from the elections has paved the way for Islamist parties to become the main opposition.

Consequently, protests continued until March 2020, when the government demanded they stop, invoking COVID-19. Moreover, activists continue to face arrest and harassment by the authorities. 

Algeria’s 2020 Constitutional Referendum

On November 1, 2020, Algerians passed a new constitution enshrining presidential term limits and increase the powers of the parliament and the prime minister. The government touted it as being the answer to the demands of Hirak movement.

However, some activists do not agree, and see the new constitution as a cop-out that simply enshrines the old political system. In other words, many opposition supporters believe the new constitution to be an empty gesture.

Algeria’s 2024 Presidential Election

The 2024 presidential election was marked by low turnout and low enthusiasm. Ultimately, three candidates appeared on the ballot and Tebboune won re-election with 84 percent of the vote.

Curated News and Analysis

Madjid Serrah, The New Arab (September 17, 2024): With Tebboune re-elected, will Algeria’s foreign policy change?

AP (September 17, 2024): Algeria’s president sworn in for a second term after lopsided election

RFI (September 14, 2024): Algeria president re-elected with 84.3 percent of vote: official results

Updated October 30, 2024