Like many elections taking place in over 50 countries this year, the upcoming presidential race in Algeria was initially expected to be uneventful.
With limited viable opposition candidates capable of posing a serious challenge, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune appeared poised for an effortless victory and a second term.
However, his surprise announcement on March 21 to hold elections three months ahead of schedule has startled voters and roused the country’s political parties from a state of apathy.
The hashtag “Ma fhemna walou,” meaning “We didn’t understand anything” in North African Arabic, has trended on platforms like YouTube and TikTok since the announcement.
Opposition parties have scrambled to nominate challenger candidates for the September 7 poll, while Tebboune himself has yet to formally declare his intentions to seek re-election.
In a televised interview, he deferred questions about his candidacy, citing an ongoing program he is implementing.
The sudden election date change has injected uncertainty into Algeria’s political landscape, prompting speculation about the future of the 78-year-old leader and the military apparatus supporting him.
Despite attempts to justify the decision as a “return to normality” and a “purely technical” matter of scheduling, critics argue that scheduling an election during the height of campaign season in August, when many Algerians are on vacation, is impractical.
The election, whether it draws high turnout or not, will mark a significant moment for Algeria, coming five years after nationwide protests forced former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign.
Tebboune, who assumed office after Bouteflika’s ouster, initially pledged to address protesters’ demands but later cracked down on demonstrations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout his tenure, challenges including economic hardships and restrictions on press freedom have persisted, underscoring the complexities facing Algeria’s government as it seeks to navigate various competing priorities.
