Preliminary data shows that less than half of Algeria’s eligible voters participated in the country’s presidential election.
Despite efforts by incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 78, to encourage voter turnout, the electoral board, ANIE, reported a provisional turnout rate of 48% early Sunday.
Tebboune, heavily favored to win a second term, faced two challengers: moderate Islamist Abdelaali Hassani, 57, and socialist Youcef Aouchiche, 41.
His main goal was to overcome the historic low voter turnout of 2019 when more than 60% of voters abstained.
More than 24 million Algerians were registered to vote, with a significant portion of the electorate under the age of 40.
Both of Tebboune’s opponents urged for strong participation, with Hassani calling for a “large turnout” to lend credibility to the election.
However, political analysts, such as Hasni Abidi, suggested that many voters felt disengaged, seeing little competition in the race.
Abidi noted that the candidates’ campaigns struggled to generate public interest, especially among Algeria’s younger population.
Official results were expected later Sunday, although the outcome seemed predetermined.
