In Algeria, the two unsuccessful presidential candidates have contested the results of the weekend election, alleging fraud.
Candidate Abdelaali Hassani, despite conceding to incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, criticized the electoral process. Tebboune secured nearly 95 percent of the vote according to the National Authority for Election (ANIE).
Hassani, leader of the moderate Islamist Movement of Society for Peace, declared he had “lost the battle but not the war.” His opponent, Youcef Aouchiche of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), also expressed concerns, labeling the situation as “dangerous.”
Aouchiche announced plans to appeal the preliminary results to the Constitutional Court, blaming ANIE for the alleged election irregularities. Hassani echoed these concerns, disputing voter turnout figures and his reported 3.17 percent share of the vote.
Tebboune, 78, was anticipated to win the election, but his campaign, along with the other candidates, issued a joint statement accusing ANIE of irregularities. ANIE has promised to provide full documentation to the Constitutional Court.
Analyst Hasni Abidi noted that while Tebboune’s victory was expected, voter turnout was disappointingly low.
