Algeria's President Tebboune Re-elected in Landslide

Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Tebboune Remains Algeria's President

Abdelmadjid Tebboune's initial rise to power came in 2019, amidst the...

Abdelmadjid Tebboune re-elected as Algeria's president with 95% of the vote, amid opposition claims of repression and disputed results.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has cemented his grip on power in Algeria, winning re-election with a staggering 94.65% of the vote. The electoral authority's declaration on September 8, 2024, confirmed Tebboune's dominance in the presidential election.

Tebboune's victory was largely anticipated, given his strong political footing. His opponents, including moderate Islamist Abdelaali Hassani and socialist Youcef Aouchiche, failed to mount a significant challenge, capturing only a small fraction of the vote.

Algeria's electoral authority stressed its dedication to transparency and fairness, highlighting the measures taken to ensure a competitive election environment. The announcement of the results marked a pivotal moment in Algeria's political history.

The campaign team of Abdelmadjid Tebboune disputed the official vote tally, claiming their own regional rallies indicated a significantly higher number of votes in favor of the incumbent president. Citing internal data, the team argued that Tebboune's actual support far exceeded the announced figures.

Throughout the campaign, human rights groups, including Amnesty International, and local activists condemned the repressive environment, alleging widespread harassment and prosecution of opposition party members, journalists, and civil society activists. The international community expressed concerns over the restrictive atmosphere, which they argued undermined the integrity of the electoral process.

During his re-election campaign, Tebboune pledged to build on his first-term achievements by further enhancing unemployment benefits, pensions, and public housing programs. Having already increased these initiatives during his initial presidency, Tebboune vowed to continue supporting Algerian citizens through expanded social welfare initiatives.

Abdelmadjid Tebboune's initial rise to power came in 2019, amidst the widespread hirak protests that swept Algeria, toppling the long-standing presidency of Abdelaziz Bouteflika after two decades in office. The mass demonstrations, which began in February 2019, drew hundreds of thousands of people into the streets every week for over a year.

The hirak movement's primary demands included an end to endemic corruption and the removal of Bouteflika, who had ruled Algeria since 1999. Protesters from all walks of life, including students, workers, and professionals, united in their call for systemic change, seeking a more transparent and accountable government.