Rabat – Algeria witnessed a scandalous legislative election this Saturday. The large majority of the country’s electorate boycotted the election today as part of the Hirak movement, calling for tangible reforms.
Videos of the massive electoral boycott show people flocking the streets and chanting slogans against President Tebboune and his government.
In some videos, frustrated Algerian crowds are seen throwing ballot papers on the ground. In an even more symbolically potent show of disapproval and defiance, other boycotters placed their election papers in trash bins.
There have also been videos of clashes between voters and election authorities in ballot centers.
Reports indicate that only 14.47% of voters cast ballots only a few hours before the end of the vote.
By contrast, 40%of people voted in the 2019 election.
Today’s elections seek to help Algeria choose 407 deputies in the people’s assembly, the first chamber of the Algerian Parliament.
The legislative elections took place amid a raging socio-economic crisis in Algeria.
Since the end of the Bouteflika era, Algerians have been calling for reforms to effectively break with the same distanced and self-entitled politico-military establishment that has confiscated the country’s economy and politics for most of the past three decades.
Algerians continue to flock the streets to denounce the lack of reforms and an increasing culture of police brutality, arbitrary arrests and repression.
Amid citizens’ concerns, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that the rate of participation in elections “does not matter.”
The Algerian president claimed he respects the decision of the people who chose to boycott the elections. He said, however, that boycotters should not impose their opinion on others.
“Every Algerian has the right to express his opinion, but with respect for others because the majority respects the minority.”
Tebboune said that he feels that Algeria is on the right path, citing the overwhelming criticism against his regime as evidence.
