Algerians Head to Polls in Parliamentary Election Seen as Litmus Test for Post-Hirak Reforms
ALGIERS, Algeria – Algerians cast ballots on June 12 in a parliamentary election widely viewed as a gauge of public engagement with the country's political evolution, more than seven years after the Hirak movement forced longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power.
Around 24.7 million registered voters, including roughly 854,000 abroad, are eligible to elect the 407 members of the People's National Assembly, according to the Independent National Authority of Elections (ANIE). Turnout, however, is expected to remain low, reflecting a persistent disconnect between voters and a political establishment that critics say has changed little since the mass protests of 2019.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who succeeded Bouteflika and has promoted the vote as a step toward a “new Algeria,” faces a familiar challenge: convincing a skeptical electorate that reforms have meaningfully shifted power away from the executive branch. Opponents argue that parliament still plays a marginal role, with opposition parties constrained by legal hurdles and political pressure.
Electoral authorities rejected hundreds of candidates and multiple party lists during the nomination review, citing eligibility criteria and legal compliance. Opposition figures and rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, say tighter electoral laws have strengthened state oversight of political competition. Notably, several activists linked to the Hirak movement, such as prominent opposition figure Karim Tabbou, have faced repeated arrests and legal action, which they describe as part of a shrinking political space.
Tebboune has dismissed such criticism, insisting that reforms have bolstered institutional stability. He has described the Hirak protests as having “saved Algeria from collapse” and urged citizens to vote to reinforce the legitimacy of state institutions. The vote uses an open-list proportional representation system, allowing voters to choose party lists and indicate preferences for individual candidates.
The main ruling party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), which held 105 seats in the outgoing parliament, faces competition from its traditional ally, the National Democratic Rally (RND), as well as opposition parties including the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), and a mix of nationalist, Islamist, and independent lists. In a shift from the 2021 election—when turnout plunged to just 23 percent—several opposition parties that boycotted that vote are now participating, including the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), the Workers' Party (PT), and the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD). Their decision reflects an ongoing debate over whether engagement or boycott offers greater influence.
Economic concerns are dominating campaign discourse. Candidates are focusing on jobs, purchasing power, housing and investment, while the government highlights spending programs and infrastructure projects funded largely by hydrocarbon revenues—which still account for the vast majority of exports. Inflationary pressures and uneven job creation weigh heavily on public sentiment, especially among younger voters entering a labor market with limited opportunities outside the public sector and energy-linked industries. Algeria’s heavy reliance on oil and gas revenues also leaves state spending vulnerable to global price swings, a vulnerability that officials acknowledge as a key variable in maintaining social commitments.
The official campaign period kicked off on June 12, with polling stations set to close in the evening. Results are expected within days. The election is being closely watched not only for its immediate outcome but also for what it signals about the durability of Algeria's post-Hirak political settlement—and whether the country’s institutions can absorb popular demands for change without destabilizing the system.