Algerians vote in parliamentary elections

Algerians have began voting for the parliamentary elections across the nation, which authorities say will be the freest and most transparent elections ever hosted in the North Africa country.

Reports say that more than 48,000 voting stations opened on Thursday morning at 8:00 am local time, with many venues under tight police supervision.

Television images this morning showed thousands of people queuing up at voting stations, waiting to cast their vote.

Almost 22 million Algerian citizens are expected to vote, with 44 parties participating in the ballots. About half of the parties taking part in this year’s elections were only legalised earlier this year.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika says that the newly elected parliament will have a say in writing a new constitution for the country.

However, decades of political suppression and rigged ballots, may result in a low voter turnout and may not exceed 35% witnessed in the 2007 parliamentary elections.

Initial results are expected on Friday, but the voter turnout will only be known after polls close at 7:00 pm local
time.

Algerian youth who comprise a third of the population, are predicted to stay away from the polls out of suspicion.

In 1989 Algeria abolished the one-party system; however two years later the government cancelled the general elections after the Islamist party, the Islamic Salvation Front won the first round.

The cancellation of the 1991 elections, lead to a decade of violence, which resulted in the deaths of around 200 000 people.

In early 2011, deadly riots and protest occurred in Algeria concurrently with the Arab Spring that engulfed the entire region, however the state remained unscathed.

This year, the election campaign has focused on issues of unemployment, housing and the rising cost of living. <Cihan>

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