Algerians head to the polls this week for legislative elections overshadowed less by political competition than by widespread public disengagement. The 2021 legislative election saw a voter turnout of just 23%, the lowest since independence, and observers expect this vote could fare little better. Public skepticism has deepened after authorities barred more than 3,700 prospective candidates under electoral rules designed to curb the influence of illicit money, a move opposition parties say has been applied arbitrarily. Although parties, including the Socialist Forces Front, have returned to the race after previous boycotts, some observers believe the new parliament is unlikely to alter Algeria’s political landscape significantly. Meanwhile, critics argue that shrinking civic space and restrictions on dissent continue to weaken confidence in democratic institutions.
Al Jazeera