Elections in Algeria: President wins 95%, challengers 5% of votes

(Patria) - Algerian authorities yesterday declared President Abdelmadjid Tebboune the overwhelming winner of the presidential elections.

However, an opposition candidate raised allegations of irregularities in the vote counting, while less than half of registered voters turned out to vote.

According to official preliminary results, Tebboune won 95 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a second round.

Abdelaali Hassani Cherif won three percent, and Youcef Aouchich two percent of the vote. Turnout was 48 percent.

Tebboune, who is backed by the military, faced only nominal opposition.

The campaign of Hassani Cherif raised allegations of irregularities at polling stations, but did not say whether they believed these violations affected the election outcome.

However, when announcing the results, the head of the election commission, Mohammed Charfi, said that the oversight body worked to ensure transparency and fair competition for all candidates.

Tebboune, who has been in power since 2019, has promised to increase unemployment benefits, pensions and public housing programs, all of which were already increased during his first presidential term.