Polls close in Algeria election denounced by protesters as ‘sham’
Foreign
Extremely low turnout reported in Algiers presidential vote as demonstrators say deep reforms are needed before polls. polling stations were largely of going to a polling station: deserted. According to a vote rising unemployment, rampant observer, a municipal employee in corruption, people being deprived his 40s, the ballot boxes were far of their civil and political rights,” from being full with envelopes. she told Al Jazeera, draped in the “The turnout is seemingly similar country’s flag. to the 2014 presidential election”, “The ruling elite has enriched he said, referring to the vote five itself at people’s expense and they years ago that saw a turnout of 51.7 want to continue to plunder the per cent. country’s wealth. You cannot accept
A voter in the capital described it if you aspire to have a bright the election as the “sole solution” future in this country”, she said, to resolve the country’s political while shouting “simlyia” (peaceful) impasse. “The overhaul of the towards the police. leadership will come from the In the crowd, many said that the election, not from demonstrating”, government has turned a deaf ear to said Mourad, a 31-year-old cook. protesters’ demands.
‘Elite enriched itself at people’s “The authorities don’t see us as expense’ citizens. There is no consideration
But critics say all five candidates for the Algerian people, they are are “part of the ruling establishment” disdainful”, said Rachida, a 53-yearold and should be purged because of public worker, who joined the their ties to the unpopular former sit-in in central Algiers with her government. sister and her niece.
Opponents of the vote say no “They have batons, we have election can be free or fair as long ideas. Despite their violence, we will as the old guard remains in power remain peaceful, this is the main and the military continues to be strength of this movement.” involved in political life. Members of the leaderless
Lieutenant General Ahmed movement also criticised officials’ Gaid Salah, who emerged as the comments against the anti-vote country’s de facto leader following activists. Bouteflika’s departure, maintained Last week, Interior Minister that the election is the only to break Salah Eddine Dahmoune described the country’s political deadlock, the protesters who fiercely insisting the army high command rejected the vote as “traitors” and will not back any candidate in the “mercenaries.” race. “We are not conspirators, neither
Despite the candidates’ ties to manipulated by foreign groups,” Bouteflika, Mohamed, a 25-yearold Said, a 60-year-old engineer, who waiter, cast a ballot out of fear held a sign reading “no to a forced the country could plunge into election”, told Al Jazeera. “chaos”. “The choice of candidates “We have been taking the is poor but this is the only choice streets to honour the heritage of the we have. The situation is extremely millions of martyrs who gave their precarious. We can no longer afford lives to see an independent and to stay in this political turmoil. We democratic Algeria,” he said. “The need political stability.” administration has betrayed this
But Louiza, a 20-year-old heritage for far too long. Enough! French literature student protesting Enough of the long-standing in Algiers, said she was boycotting military rule.” the vote.
“We have all the reasons to take to the street today instead
The polls have closed in Algeria, where a contentious presidential election, boycotted by tens of thousands of protesters nationwide and dismissed as a “sham,” was held.
Anti-riot police were deployed early on Thursday to block access to Maurice Audin Square and the iconic Grand Post office in central Algiers, the epicentre of the months-long protests demanding the departure of the old guard and an overhaul of the political system.
Voter turnout stood at 33 per cent at 5pm local time (16:00 GMT), just two hours before polls closed, according to Algeria’s independent election monitoring authority. More than 24 million people are eligible to vote.
In a tense Algiers, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “There is no vote today,” Independence” and “No vote with the mafia” as they fought off attempts by security forces to disperse the crowds.
Describing the vote as a “charade”, Majid Belghout, a 54-year-old architect, dismissed the election as an “attempt by the old guard to regenerate itself.”
“A free election can only take place in Algeria after a democratic process. We are only at the beginning of this process,” Belghout said, reiterating the protesters’ demand for sweeping reforms before any meaningful vote takes place.
“We are only at the beginning of this process,” he added. “It is not the time to vote, but it is the moment to move to a national democratic and independent debate. This is the only way to reach a consensus on Algeria’s future.”
In Kabylie, a northern mountainous region with a long history of government opposition, the demonstrations turned violent as some protesters entered a polling station in Tizi Ouzou, located 125km (78 miles) east of Algiers, tossing ballot papers into the air, according to local media. Unrest also erupted in Bouira, located some 100km (62 miles) east of Algiers, where protesters set the headquarters of Algeria’s independent monitoring election authority on fire.
Preliminary results are expected from 23:00 GMT onwards, however, final results likely will not come until at least Friday.
Five candidates are running to replace former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who stepped down in April in the face of monthslong protests, for a five-year term: former Prime Ministers Ali Benflis and Abdelamajid Tebboune; former Minister of Tourism Abdelakader Bengrina; former Minister of Culture Azzedine Mihoubi; and head of the el-Moutstakbal party Abdelaziz Belaid.
“Algerians today are aware that they need the massive popular legitimacy,” Mihoubi told reporters after casting his ballot.
“That’s why we are noticing since this morning thousands of Algerians going to polling stations, and this is the real answer to those who were doubting that this day won’t realise what people hoped for.’’
But in Algiers, many of the