Assuring Tebboune's victory generates fears and mistrust

Abdelkarim Ben Mubarak, secretary general of the Algerian Liberation Front, has criticised recent statements by the leader of the National Construction Movement, Abdelkader Ben Qurayna, who predicted an overwhelming victory for President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in the upcoming elections. Ben Mubarak, who supports the Algerian leader, considered these comments as a ‘provocation’ that causes mistrust among Algerians and may even increase the votes against him. 

The head of the National Construction Movement went so far as to claim that Tebboune ‘will achieve a landslide victory over his competitors, and that the results will reach the ceiling of 90% of voters’.

He also stressed that ‘the competition between the other candidates will be for second and third place, because the first place is reserved for the candidate Abdelmadjid Tebboune’.

Ben Mubarak condemned the statements of his ally in power, since ‘the certainty of the election results generates doubts in the street and does not motivate citizens to go to the polls, something that the opposition uses to its advantage’. Ben Mubarak also called for the opposition's opinion to be excluded and accused it of taking instructions from outside.

The Independent Electoral Authority has not yet set a date for a possible run-off, suggesting that the issue will be decided in the first round. The other candidates are trying to encourage Algerians to participate widely in the elections, warning of the ‘dangers’ facing the country.

The election campaign coincides with an announcement by the authorities of the dismantling of a network affiliated with the separatist ‘MAK’ movement that allegedly intended to use the shipment of arms and ammunition seized at the port of Bejaia on election day. In addition to this situation, border tensions with Libya, Mali and Niger also need to be highlighted.

Labour Party leader Louisa Hanoune announced her party's decision to boycott the presidential elections following the decision to withdraw her candidacy due to what she described as ‘the authority's plan to exclude her early from the race’. This position has also been adopted by the opposition Coalition for Culture and Democracy party, accused of ‘loyalty to hostile forces’, according to the secretary general of the Liberation Front.

The Muslim Brotherhood Movement for a Society for Peace, led by Abdel-Ali Hassani Sharif, is also unlikely to run in the presidential elections, as is Youssef Oushish's Socialist Forces Front. 

In this regard, Ben Qurayna pointed out that the expected weak popular turnout is due to ‘the absence of a state of political polarisation’. ‘The planned elections reflect the political currents rooted in Algerian society. President Tebboune represents the nationalist movement, Youssef Aouchich represents the left-wing democratic movement, and Abdelali Hassani Sharif represents the Islamic movement of the Muslim Brotherhood,’ he explained. ‘Therefore no partisan or political influence is expected, which reduces enthusiasm and even popular participation,’ he added.

The election campaign continues at a rapid pace, despite the fact that no candidate has unveiled a strategic plan to move the country forward and address the challenges it faces.