Algerian legislative election, 2012
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Legislative elections were held in
Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...
on 10 May 2012. The incumbent coalition, consisting of the FLN of President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika Abdelaziz Bouteflika (; ar, عبد العزيز بوتفليقة, ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Būtaflīqa ; 2 March 1937 – 17 September 2021) was an Algerian politician and diplomat who served as President of Algeria from 1999 to his resignation in 2019 ...
and the RND of Prime Minister
Ahmed Ouyahia Ahmed Ouyahia ( ar, rtl=yes, أحمد أويحيى, Aḥmad ʾŪyaḥyā; 2 July 1952) is an Algerian politician who was Prime Minister of Algeria four times (1995–98, 2004–2006, 2008–2012, 2017–2019). A career diplomat, he also served as ...
, held on to power after winning a majority of seats. The Islamist parties of the
Green Algeria Alliance The Green Algeria Alliance (french: Alliance de l'Algérie verte; ar, تكتل الجزائر الخضراء), short Green Alliance was an Islamist coalition of political parties, created on 7 March 2012 for the Algerian legislative election, ...
lost seats.


Background

Following events in the
Arab Spring The Arab Spring ( ar, الربيع العربي) was a series of Nonviolent resistance, anti-government protests, Rebellion, uprisings and Insurgency, armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began in T ...
, Algeria faced initial large scale protests but have since dwindled. An election in 1991 that resulted in a plurality for the
Islamic Salvation Front The Islamic Salvation Front ( ar, الجبهة الإسلامية للإنقاذ, al-Jabhah al-Islāmiyah lil-Inqādh; french: Front Islamique du Salut, FIS) was an Islamist political party in Algeria. The party had two major leaders representi ...
was annulled by the military amid fears of an Islamist takeover causing the
Algerian Civil War The Algerian Civil War ( ar, rtl=yes, الْحَرْبُ الْأَهْلِيَّةُ الجَزَائِرِيَّةُ, al-Ḥarb al-ʾAhlīyah al-Jazāʾirīyah) was a civil war in Algeria fought between the Algerian government and various Is ...
.


Parties


Workers' Party

The Workers' Party (PT) announced its participation on 29 February. Louisa Hanoune has previously clarified that the party had worked with the
Socialist Forces Front , Berber: Tirni Iɣallen Inemlayen (RƔN) , logo = Socialist Forces Front.png , leader1_title = First National Secretary , leader1_name = Youcef Aouchiche , leader2_title = , leader2_name = , foundation = ...
and would look towards an alliance between the two parties. Louisa Hanoune has become the most popular woman in Algeria after the party came second in the
2009 Algerian presidential election Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 9 April 2009. The result was a victory for incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was re-elected with 90% of the vote. Background The Council of Ministers announced on 3 November 2008 that a p ...
. Hanoune said the party's manifesto would be similar to previous elections, including improved employment opportunities, equal rights for women, the elimination of the
Algerian Family Code The Algerian Family Code (french: Code de Famille, ar, قانون الأسرة), enacted on June 9, 1984, specifies the laws relating to familial relations in Algeria. It includes strong elements of Sharia, Islamic law which have brought it praise ...
, making
Tamazight The Berber languages, also known as the Amazigh languages or Tamazight,, ber, label=Tuareg Tifinagh, ⵜⵎⵣⵗⵜ, ) are a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. They comprise a group of closely related languages spoken by Berber communi ...
the second official language, eliminating laws that condemn people for their religion, sexuality or other discriminatory acts and make Algeria a pioneer in production. She also criticized the creation of new parties that have emerged in January and has asked who funds these new parties.


National Rally for Democracy

The National Rally for Democracy has announced its participation in the election.
Ahmed Ouyahia Ahmed Ouyahia ( ar, rtl=yes, أحمد أويحيى, Aḥmad ʾŪyaḥyā; 2 July 1952) is an Algerian politician who was Prime Minister of Algeria four times (1995–98, 2004–2006, 2008–2012, 2017–2019). A career diplomat, he also served as ...
is the party's general secretary and the incumbent prime minister. Ouyahia and Hanoune exchanged strong words in the Algerian media. Hanoune complained about his decision of the military record to the voters, showing that as evidence of possible fraud.


Socialist Forces Front

The
Socialist Forces Front , Berber: Tirni Iɣallen Inemlayen (RƔN) , logo = Socialist Forces Front.png , leader1_title = First National Secretary , leader1_name = Youcef Aouchiche , leader2_title = , leader2_name = , foundation = ...
(FFS) has announced its participation on 29 February.
Hocine Aït Ahmed Hocine Aït Ahmed ( ar, حسين آيت أحمد‎; 20 August 1926 – 23 December 2015) was an Algerian politician. He was founder and leader until 2009 of the historical political opposition in Algeria. Life Aït Ahmed was born at Aï ...
wrote to the National Council saying that "participation in these elections is a tactical necessity for the FFS, which falls in line with (its) construction strategy of peaceful democratic alternative to this despotic regime, corrupt and destructive. he purpose of the partydoes not lie in a quota of seats to reach utin mobilising political yand peaceful yin our party and our people." The party had boycotted the two previous elections because of what it called systematic electoral fraud in favour of the ruling parties.


National Liberation Front

So far, the National Liberation Front (FLN) has not made any official publication of who will be their prime ministerial candidate. The FLN is the biggest party in Algeria and includes President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika Abdelaziz Bouteflika (; ar, عبد العزيز بوتفليقة, ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Būtaflīqa ; 2 March 1937 – 17 September 2021) was an Algerian politician and diplomat who served as President of Algeria from 1999 to his resignation in 2019 ...
. There are rumours that its candidate representing the FLN will be
Khalida Toumi Khalida Toumi ( ar, خليدة تومي) (born 13 March 1958), aka Khalida Messaoudi ( ar, خليدة مسعودي), is an Algerian politician. She was the Minister of Communication and Culture until April 2014. She is also a feminist activi ...
, the incumbent Minister of Culture.


Green Algeria Alliance

On 8 March, three Algerian Islamist parties (
Movement of Society for Peace The Movement of Society for Peace ( ar, حركة مجتمع السلم, Harakat mujtamaâ as-Silm; ), sometimes known by its shortened form Hamas () is an Islamic party in Algeria, led by Mahfoud Nahnah until his death in 2003. Its current le ...
,
Islamic Renaissance Movement The Islamic Renaissance Movement ( ar, حركة النهضة الاسلامية, ''Ḥarakat An-Nahḑa Al-Islāmiyya''; french: Mouvement de la Renaissance Islamique, MRI) is a moderate Islamist political party of Algeria. History The party wa ...
and the
Movement for National Reform The Movement for National Reform (; french: Mouvement pour la réforme nationale) is a moderate Islamist political party in Algeria. It received 9.5% of the vote in the 2002 elections and received 43 members of parliament. The party was created ...
) formed the
Green Algeria Alliance The Green Algeria Alliance (french: Alliance de l'Algérie verte; ar, تكتل الجزائر الخضراء), short Green Alliance was an Islamist coalition of political parties, created on 7 March 2012 for the Algerian legislative election, ...
. Its secretary general is
Bouguerra Soltani Bouguerra Soltani ( ar, أبو جرة سلطاني) (also Abu Jerra Sultani and other spellings) (born in 1954 in Tébessa Province Tébessa ( ar, ولاية تبسة) is a province (''wilayah'') of Algeria. Tébessa is also the name of the c ...
. Sultani said that the purpose of this alliance is to consolidate the voter base of the three political parties.


Gallery of candidates

File:Ahmed Ouyahia.jpg,
National Rally for Democracy (Algeria) The Democratic National Rally ( ar, التجمع الوطني الديمقراطي, french: Rassemblement National Démocratique, RND) is a political party in Algeria. The party held its Second Congress on 15–17 May 2003. History The RND ...
:
Ahmed Ouyahia Ahmed Ouyahia ( ar, rtl=yes, أحمد أويحيى, Aḥmad ʾŪyaḥyā; 2 July 1952) is an Algerian politician who was Prime Minister of Algeria four times (1995–98, 2004–2006, 2008–2012, 2017–2019). A career diplomat, he also served as ...
File:Ait ahmed 1958.jpg,
Socialist Forces Front , Berber: Tirni Iɣallen Inemlayen (RƔN) , logo = Socialist Forces Front.png , leader1_title = First National Secretary , leader1_name = Youcef Aouchiche , leader2_title = , leader2_name = , foundation = ...
:
Hocine Aït Ahmed Hocine Aït Ahmed ( ar, حسين آيت أحمد‎; 20 August 1926 – 23 December 2015) was an Algerian politician. He was founder and leader until 2009 of the historical political opposition in Algeria. Life Aït Ahmed was born at Aï ...
File:Khalida Toumi, 2009.jpg,
National Liberation Front (Algeria) The National Liberation Front ( ar, جبهة التحرير الوطني ''Jabhatu l-Taḥrīri l-Waṭanī''; french: Front de libération nationale, FLN) is a nationalist political party in Algeria. It was the principal nationalist movement du ...
:
Khalida Toumi Khalida Toumi ( ar, خليدة تومي) (born 13 March 1958), aka Khalida Messaoudi ( ar, خليدة مسعودي), is an Algerian politician. She was the Minister of Communication and Culture until April 2014. She is also a feminist activi ...
File:Abdellah Djaballah.jpg,
Abdallah Djaballah Saad Abdallah Djaballah ( ar, سعد عبدالله جاب الله (born on May 2, 1956) in Skikda) is an Algerian politician and leader of the Movement for National Reform (''Ḥarakat al-Iṣlāḥ al-Waṭaniyy'', also known as the ''MRN'' and ...


Boycott

The
Socialist Forces Front , Berber: Tirni Iɣallen Inemlayen (RƔN) , logo = Socialist Forces Front.png , leader1_title = First National Secretary , leader1_name = Youcef Aouchiche , leader2_title = , leader2_name = , foundation = ...
decided to forgo a decision to boycott the election after international monitors were invited to observe the process. However former Prime Minister
Sid Ahmed Ghozali Sid Ahmed Ghozali ( ar, سيد أحمد غزالي) (born 31 March 1937 in Maghnia, Algeria) is an Algerian politician who was the Prime Minister of Algeria from 1991 to 1992. Early life He was a member of the National Liberation Front party an ...
urged a boycott on the grounds that the election would be "a foregone conclusion.
Social media Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social medi ...
was abuzz with many of the country's youth calling for an abstention from voting.


Monitors

Algeria allowed foreign electoral monitors for the election. The monitors would include the
Carter Center The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He and his wife Rosalynn Carter partnered with Emory University just after his defeat in the 1980 United States presidenti ...
, the
National Democratic Institute The National Democratic Institute (NDI), or National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, is a non-profit American NGO that works with partners in developing countries to increase the effectiveness of democratic institutions. The NDI's ...
and other NGOs from the
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
and the
Arab League The Arab League ( ar, الجامعة العربية, ' ), formally the League of Arab States ( ar, جامعة الدول العربية, '), is a regional organization in the Arab world, which is located in Northern Africa, Western Africa, E ...
. Overall, there were over 500 international observers. The government also called the election the "Algerian Spring" billing it as the freest election in over 20 years.


Results

Almost 22 million are eligible to vote for 44 parties following legalisation of most parties this year. Voter turnout was expected to be low, possibly less than 35% from the last election.Algeria prepares for parliamentary elections – Africa
Al Jazeera English (4 October 2011). Retrieved on 10 May 2012.
Bouteflika called for a high participation. The turnout was 42.36%.


Reactions

;Domestic Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia announced the result saying that "the election has reinforced the Algerian people's attachment to the values of peace and stability." *
Green Algeria Alliance The Green Algeria Alliance (french: Alliance de l'Algérie verte; ar, تكتل الجزائر الخضراء), short Green Alliance was an Islamist coalition of political parties, created on 7 March 2012 for the Algerian legislative election, ...
:
Hamas Hamas (, ; , ; an acronym of , "Islamic Resistance Movement") is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, militant, and nationalist organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Bri ...
leader
Bouguerra Soltani Bouguerra Soltani ( ar, أبو جرة سلطاني) (also Abu Jerra Sultani and other spellings) (born in 1954 in Tébessa Province Tébessa ( ar, ولاية تبسة) is a province (''wilayah'') of Algeria. Tébessa is also the name of the c ...
commented: "We are surprised by these results, which are illogical, unreasonable and unacceptable". He attributed the result to "those who would like to return to a single party rule." Soltani estimated that the result would "send the Algerian Spring backwards" and announced that the Islamists would consider boycotting parliament or to ally with the left-wing and liberal opposition against the government. *
Algerian National Front The Algerian National Front (french: Front National Algérien; ar, الجبهة الوطنية الجزائرية, Jabhah al-Waṭaniyyah al-Jazā'iriyyah) is a right-wing political party in Algeria. The leader of the party is Moussa Touati. ...
: Party leader Moussa Touati claimed "blatant fraud" and announced to contest the result before the constitutional court. ;Supranational *
Arab League The Arab League ( ar, الجامعة العربية, ' ), formally the League of Arab States ( ar, جامعة الدول العربية, '), is a regional organization in the Arab world, which is located in Northern Africa, Western Africa, E ...
: Hanafi Wajih, the head of the observer team, said that "the election was free and transparent and the Algerian people have expressed their choice without coercion.""Is Algeria immune to the 'Arab Spring'?"
Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazeera ...
. 14 May 2012.
* : Ignacio Salafranca, the head of the EU observer team adjudged the election as "a first step in the reform process which will need to be backed, after a constitutional review, by a deepening of democracy". He criticised that international monitors had been denied access to a national voters' register, which contradicted pledges of transparency. However, he welcomed the overall calm atmosphere in which the elections took place. * : The OIC described the election as "successful and democratic" and praised that they had been held "in an organised, transparent and peaceful manner." ;States * : Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
hailed the election saying that "the high number of women elected nd the election itself isa welcome step in Algeria's progress toward democratic reform."


Aftermath

The new parliament's opening session was boycotted by 49 MPs from the Green Algeria Alliance and 11 MPs from two other parties on the grounds that they claimed the election was fraudulent and "a return to the era of single party rule. We decided to withdraw from the first session of the National Assembly and protest officially against the results of the ballot." Lakhdar Benkhelaf of the Islamist Front for Justice and Development, a part of the Political Front for the Safeguard of Democracy, said the boycott was "a question of principle."Algerian MPs boycott parliament session - Africa - Al Jazeera English
/ref>


References

{{Algerian elections
Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...
2012 in Algeria Elections in Algeria May 2012 events in Africa Election and referendum articles with incomplete results