Algeria’s President Tebboune Re-Elected with Almost 95% of the Vote

In a landslide victory, Algeria’s incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been re-elected with almost 95% of the vote, according to the country’s electoral authority ANIE. Tebboune, 78, was heavily favored to secure a five-year second term in the race against moderate Islamist Abdelaali Hassani and socialist candidate Youcef Aouchiche.

Despite his re-election, Tebboune’s main focus was boosting voter participation in Saturday’s poll, following a record abstention rate of over 60% in 2019. That year, Tebboune became president after widely boycotted elections and mass pro-democracy protests that died out under his tenure as policing ramped up and hundreds were put in jail.

Over 5.3 million people voted for Tebboune, accounting for 94.65% of the vote, according to ANIE head Mohamed Charfi. French President Emmanuel Macron sent his "warmest congratulations" in a statement late Sunday, highlighting the "exceptional relationship" between the nations despite frequent tensions.

However, all three campaigns, including Tebboune’s, issued a joint statement late Sunday alleging "irregularities" in ANIE’s results, citing "vagueness and contradictions in the participation figures." Hassani’s campaign had earlier denounced attempts to "inflate the results" and recorded "instances of proxy group voting."

In a video posted on Facebook, Ahmed Sadouk, head of Hassani’s campaign, called the election results a "masquerade," disputing the turnout announced by ANIE. He said the results undermine the elections and tarnish the image of the country.

Analyst Hasni Abidi said Tebboune’s win was "a victory that looks like a warning," pointing to the incumbent’s failure to win over young people, who represent half of Algeria’s 45-million-strong population. As a result, Abidi added, the re-elected president has been "weakened."

The election results have sparked concerns about political and media freedoms in Algeria. Amnesty International said earlier this week that Algerian authorities were continuing to "stifle civic space by maintaining a severe repression of human rights." Dozens remain behind bars or are still being prosecuted due to their activism, according to prisoners’ rights group CNLD.

As Tebboune begins his second term, he faces pressure to address the major deficit in political and media freedoms, with Algerians having "divorced current politics" after the so-called Hirak protests ended. The president should also focus on improving living standards and reducing dependence on hydrocarbons, as promised during his campaign.

For now, Tebboune’s re-election has raised questions about the legitimacy of the election and the future of democracy in Algeria.