Algerian election: hopefuls submit their candidacy for presidency
As incumbent President Abdelmajid Tebboune seeks to rule Algeria’s government again, he and under a dozen hopefuls submitted their candidacies on July 18th for the upcoming presidential election, according to Asharq al-Awsat, Arab News, and agencies.
Abdelaali Hassani, head of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) party, is one of the few candidates expected to contest the election against the 78-year-old Tebboune, who won it in 2019 amidst months of pro-democracy protests.
To be legible for the ballot, candidates must present a list of at least 50,000 individual signatures from registered voters or 600 members from at least 29 of Algeria’s various provincial assemblies.
According to Ahmed Sadok, an MSP representative, Hassani has gained well above the sufficient signatures. Sadok told AFP that the party has gathered “more than 90,000 petition signatures” with the additional backing of “2,200 other elected representatives.”
The MSP is an Islamist political party in Algeria that was founded in 1990 by Mafoud Nahnah, an international Muslim Brotherhood affiliate.
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On July 13th, Louisa Hanoune dropped out of the presidential race as leader of the Algerian Workers’ Party. Hanoune claimed that the administrative process was “slow and inefficient”, which hindered the collection of endorsements, describing the electoral system as an anti-democratic legislative framework.
Hanoune’s departure leaves only two female candidates: businesswoman Said Nezgha and lawyer Zoubida Assoul. The former stated in a press conference before officially submitting her candidacy that she hoped for an election that “takes place in a climate of transparency and integrity, without any favouritism”.
Tebboune remains the front runner for the election as the President still maintains the backing of the political elite and military top brass.
“Given the desire of many parties, political and non-political organizations and the youth, I announce my intention to run for a second term,” stated the incumbent President when announcing his candidacy.
The final list of hopefuls who wish to rule the largest country in Africa with a population of just under 45 million will be published on July 27th.
Arab News / Asharq al-Awsat / The New Arab and agencies
