Algerian political parties end election boycott after reassuranceshttps://en.majalla.com/node/319426/politics/algerian-political-parties-end-election-boycott-after-reassurances
Algerian political parties end election boycott after reassurances
Several big parties are to stand again in the national presidential election on 7 September after concerns that recent votes have been the rigged rubber-stamping of a preferred candidate.
AFP
A woman walks past Algerian election posters. The country next goes to the polls on 7 September 2024.
Algerian political parties end election boycott after reassurances
Algeria’s upcoming presidential election now has more candidates on the ballot after some of the biggest political parties dropped their boycott of the vote.
After somewhat mysterious assurances over the integrity of the process, Islamic, democratic, and leftist parties say they will re-enter the race, at what could be a vital moment for Algeria’s future.
In recent years, voting has been criticised as a sham, the leadership’s chosen candidate more anointed than elected. Such is the cynicism, last time round less than four in ten Algerians bothered turning up at the polls.
Al Majalla considers the political forces at work and how they have reshaped the list of potential presidents from which voters will choose on 7 September.
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Those returning to the ballot include the country’s largest Islamic party, the Movement of Society for Peace; Louisa Hanoune’s Workers’ Party; and Algeria’s largest and oldest opposition group, the Socialist Forces Front (FFS).
None of these parties have taken part in elections since 2019, when President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced from office. Subsequent votes were derided as simply rubber-stamping his successor, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, amid a suppression of protest.
This time, there is more support for the elections. The major parties agree that it is a critical juncture. Their varying political visions all seek to help Algeria boost its internal stability and resist external influence.
Hanoune said these elections “differ significantly from previous ones, given the grave global, continental, and regional circumstances”.
Since 2019, when President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced from office, votes have been derided as rubber-stamping his successor
The FFS was the first political party to emerge after Algeria's independence in 1963, but its participation in presidential elections since 1999 has been largely muted, after its leader Hocine Aït Ahmed withdrew from the contest.
It will take part this year, however, saying elections "offer an opportunity to politically re-mobilise and reclaim democratic political spaces". On its choice to participate, it cited "historical responsibilities" and its "adherence to the ethical principles of the political front".
An archive photo of the announcement of the results of the Algerian presidential elections during a press conference on 13 December 2019.
The party's national secretary, Youcef Aouchiche, called the decision to participate a "sacrifice" and "a new phase of struggle to reaffirm the party's commitment to its fundamental and founding principles in order to expand its influence".
The candidate for the Union for Change and Progress, Zoubida Assoul, acknowledged that her party's boycotts of previous elections had not worked.
She said they stood for "upholding rights and freedoms, with an independent judiciary as the cornerstone, integrating into a holistic development strategy where merit and competence are the decisive factors".
Mind the gap
According to Prof. Nour El Sabah Aknouche at the University of Biskra, ending the election boycotts is opportunistic from the parties: they sense a chance to fill a political vacuum, returning to the stage as active players.
"The 7 September vote will redefine the political landscape, prompting each party to align itself according to its perspective and vision," he said. This applied not only to the presidential elections but also to the legislative and municipal contests.
Dr. Abdel Latif Bouroubi at the University of Constantine called for scrutiny from the electorate, saying parties' policies "should not be superficially interpreted."
An elderly man sits at a bus stop covered in posters during the legislative election campaign on 11 June 2021 in Algiers.
He said: "Parties have come to understand that boycotting elections is no longer an effective strategy… it does not yield fruitful results, because their voices are not reflected in election outcomes… it hinders political and promotional opportunities."
As "fundamental components of democratic systems, elections are pivotal in rejuvenating the political landscape," he said. "The actions and effectiveness of parties directly influence the trajectory of democratic advancement."
Integrity concerns
Questions over the integrity of voting was one of the main reasons for the parties to initiate their boycott in the first place, so some are now asking what assurances they received to make them change their minds.
Abderrafik Kechout, a lecturer at Mohamed Seddik Ben Yahia University in Jijel, attributes their return—and the participation of new candidates—to a renewed effort to provide reassurance over integrity that was "either absent or inadequate in the past".
He said: "The decision to participate is unsurprising for several reasons. One major factor is that their involvement might be confined to mobilisation efforts without committing further, focusing instead on rallying public opinion for robust participation in presidential elections without endorsing particular candidates."
Questions over the integrity of voting were why the parties initiated their election boycott in the first place. What has made them change their minds?
"Moreover, their participation could stem from a sense of duty towards domestic developments or in response to perceived external threats. Thus, participating is viewed as an opportunity to thwart both domestic and foreign adversaries."
Aknouche agreed, saying the parties were "seeking defined roles in the post-election landscape". The September elections were expected to "uphold governance standards that enhance legitimacy and transparency", Aknouche added.
"The country requires the collective engagement of all political stakeholders—government, parties, and civil society—as determinants of stability and development."
Turnout hopes
Given that this year's elections seem to have a sense of momentum and broad support from a wider range of parties, hopes are high that they will have a positive impact.
Voter turnout was at its lowest ever level in 2019. Only 39% of Algerians cast their ballot, according to the Independent Electoral Authority. This year, the tension, unrest, and protests against the electoral process of previous years have been absent.
"Voter turnout may significantly increase due to mobilisation across all segments of society," said Aknouche. "This mobilisation aims to bolster growth and security: essential for addressing future social, economic, and strategic challenges.
"The next president will require a robust and efficient coordination mechanism to realise the public's aspirations on employment, infrastructure, healthcare, and international representation over the next five years. These will differ markedly in both form and substance from previous years."
