Sharjah 24 – AFP: Algerians began voting on Saturday in a presidential election, with incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune widely expected to win a second term.
The 78-year-old faces two challengers: moderate Islamist Abdelaali Hassani and socialist Youcef Aouchiche. Despite the competition, Tebboune is heavily favored, with much of the focus on achieving a high voter turnout, especially after the low turnout in 2019, following the Hirak pro-democracy protests.
Polling stations opened early in the morning, with results anticipated by Sunday. Candidates have been focusing on the younger population, which makes up more than half the electorate. Promises range from improving living standards and reducing dependency on hydrocarbons to expanding freedoms. Tebboune, meanwhile, has highlighted his economic successes, such as job creation and wage increases during his first term. His challengers, however, are campaigning for greater political and media freedoms.
Amid the political atmosphere, rights groups like Amnesty International have criticized the government's "zero-tolerance" approach to dissent, reflecting the challenges Tebboune faces in addressing public dissatisfaction and restoring faith in the political process.
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