The Algerian Electoral Commission has officially selected three candidates from a pool of sixteen for the presidential election scheduled for September 7. The incumbent president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who is seeking a second term, is viewed as the frontrunner. The other two candidates are Abdelali Hassani Cherif from the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) and Youcef Aouchiche from the Socialist Forces Front (FFS). Their candidacies were approved on July 25, pending validation by the Constitutional Council, while the thirteen disqualified candidates have a 48-hour window to file an appeal.
Many of the rejected candidates, including two women—Saida Neghza and Zoubida Assoul—failed to secure the necessary sponsorships mandated by electoral law. Neghza criticized the commission for alleged fraud and intends to appeal the decision, while Assoul, a former judge known for her activism, will address the press regarding her situation.
Candidates must gather signatures from either 600 elected officials or 50,000 voters from 29 provinces, a requirement often seen as a significant barrier. Concerns regarding repercussions for supporting opposition candidates have made signature collection particularly challenging.
If the appeals do not succeed, the election will feature Tebboune, 78, as the "independent" candidate, alongside Hassani Cherif, 57, and Aouchiche, 41. The presence of these candidates is perceived as a means for the government to project a semblance of political representation.
Historically, the FFS has boycotted presidential elections, reflecting the skepticism towards the electoral process in regions like Kabylie, which has a strong abstentionist sentiment. The FFS’s participation in this election aims to safeguard national unity and reinforce state institutions, signaling an effort to mitigate voter apathy and opposition.