Bouteflika elected for a third term
2009-04-10
Despite some incidents in Kabylie and protests by opposition parties who have questioned the official turnout figures, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika won re-election with 90% of the vote.
By Nazim Fethi and Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers -10/04/09
 [Getty Images] Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika won re-election with 90.24% of the vote. |
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika won 90.24% of the vote to secure his third mandate on Thursday (April 9th). The participation rate is 74.54%, Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni announced Friday morning,
Although voting was held under tight security and Zerhouni affirmed that the poll was conducted in "good conditions", several attacks were reported. A bomb exploded at a polling station in Imeghenine, near (Boumerdes) and a police officer was killed by a roadside bomb in Tebessa. Local media also reported that at least nine polling stations in eastern Algeria were vandalised and ballot boxes set on fire, while in Bouira, in upper Kabylie, streets were reportedly blocked to prevent ballots from being delivered to polling stations.
Louisa Hanoune, the candidate representing the Workers’ Party (PT), finished second with 4.22%. Moussa Touati, the president of the National Algerian Front (FNA), was third with 2.31%. Mohamed Djahid Younsi, the president of El Islah, came in fourth with 1.37%. The AHD’s Fewzi Rebaine was fifth with 0.93% and independent candidate Mohamed Said came in last with 0.92%.
Turnout was estimated at 64.76% in Algiers, 30.75% in Tizi Ouzou and 29.36% in Bejaia.
"The high turnout is due to the great efforts made by the authorities and the cleansing of the electoral roll," the interior minister said.
The five losing candidates, however, believe that these figures were artificially inflated by the authorities.
The Socialist Forces Front (FFS), an opposition party which had called for a boycott of the elections, issued a statement Friday saying that the true turnout level did not exceed 18%.
The FFS alleged, "The poll was marred by massive, widespread and open fraud. Local council leaders were amazed to discover that on the day of the elections, thousands of names were suddenly added to the electoral lists in their communes. In the capital, as in many other cities, our activists saw buses packed with people who had come to vote at pre-selected stations where they were not registered to vote. In some regions, soldiers openly cast several votes in numerous communes."
For their part, the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) said Friday that "the irregularities were massive and numerous and occurred from North to South and from East to West, indicating that a concerted fraud strategy was in place at central level".
Candidate Mohamed Said claimed Thursday night that he was aware of "a large number of irregularities at some polling stations, particularly in Relizane, Oum El Bouaghi, Sedrata and M’sila."
Louisa Hanoune complained, "At some polling stations ballot papers for the PT’s candidate were unavailable, and at others they had been defaced. We notified the interior minister immediately."
Candidate Moussa Touati also alleged that turnout levels were inflated: "We know from our own sources that verbal orders were given to polling station officers to bring up the turnout level to 60%."
The interior minister dismissed these reports as mere allegations: "No one has come forward with any proof of these claims. And even if a few irregularities did occur, they had no impact on the final results or the turnout level."
There had been genuine fears of mass abstention. The low 2007 general election voter turnout led many observers to expect the same result on Thursday.
In some polling stations in the capital, many elderly voters complained their names were not on the electoral lists. One of them was Mohamed Haddad, who fought in the Algerian War of Independence. "I’ve always voted, out of patriotism, but today I found out that my name isn’t on the electoral roll. It’s as if I’ve been killed off," he told Magharebia with a lump in his throat.
He was not alone. At another school on Rue de la Liberté, two elderly women kicked up a fuss when they learned their names were not on the electoral roll. "Do they want to ban us from voting?" wondered Hadja Hnifa. Her equally unfortunate friend tried to reassure her: "They’ll correct it and then we can vote next time around."
At crowded cafes, opinions were divided as to whether people should vote. Salim Lamri, who is unemployed, said he would not: "I was unemployed before Bouteflika came along. In the ten years he’s been making promises, I haven’t seen any changes. It’s just billionaires who have done well since he came in."
"They tell us our country is rich but we, the people, have never been as poor as we have been over the last few years," said council employee Rachid Gasmi, who also planned not to vote. "Look at food prices. Do they want us to starve to death? Or force us to start rioting?" he wondered.
Nassima Djabri, who works for a private company, was far more enthusiastic. "Bouteflika has done a lot for women and he has just given them more opportunities to obtain positions of authority at all levels. I’m no expert on politics, but I think he is best placed to run the country," she said.
Her fellow Bouteflika supporters were eager to celebrate. Even before the announcement of the final figures, they drove in a victory procession through the streets of the capital, their car horns honking in triumph.
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vrikch Posted 2009-04-10
Honestly, in Algeria, the truth is for sale. I will give you a beer if you sell it again. Any bets?
عبدالهادي Posted 2009-04-10
Salam alikum my brothers. I hope that we get in touch.
Anonymous Posted 2009-04-10
This is a day of mourning for Algeria. It has sunken further into the vicious circle of stagnation and political immorality. The announced election results are a slap in the face of the people, convincing them yet more of the leaders’ disdain for them and of the little importance they place on public opinion. In opposition to this apparent disdain and in spite of the media brainwashing, it is not certain that the young people are going to remain apathetic. It is true that one part of the population was stupefied by the extreme aggressiveness of the electoral campaign and passively followed the instructions to vote, but it would be insulting to the Algerians to compare them to Panurge’s sheep. Most are frustrated and angry, and a significant number may be tempted by extremism. If such is the case, the dictatorship’s victory by deception could be a Pyrrhus-style victory. The 20th Century saw the fall of Nazi and Italian fascism followed by the fall of Spain’s, Portugal’s and the Greek Colonies authoritarian regimes – and this is not to mention the pathetic dictatorships of Latin America and of Idi Amin, Mobutu and Bokassa in Africa – but Arab fascism resisted. It will be anachronistic if they are to survive the 21st Century. The sooner they are buried, the better it will be.
أبو الخنساء Posted 2009-04-11
What can we say? Congratulations to the Algerian people for this new victory of democracy. Here I refer to the way in which the elections were held in safety and security. Let the president Abdelaziz Bouteflika be happy and shows that he deserves them. Otherwise, he has to be faithful with himself by honoring his promises to dear Algeria, to the Maghreb brothers, safety, good neighborhood, success to the Arab Maghreb and not be a stumbling stone in the face of real progress of the region because we're looking forward to visit Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania with a Maghreb ID card without borders or visas.
Acharif Moulay Abdellah BOUSKRAOUI Posted 2009-04-11
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika deserves the respect of all Algerians. Upon this fortunate occasion, I have the great honour of presenting my most sincere wishes and congratulations to Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his entire honourable family. And, upon this fortunate occasion, as a Moroccan and a Maghreb person, I hope that our two countries will work together for the happiness of the people of the Maghreb and the Arab Maghreb Union. Upon this occasion, I have the honour as a Moroccan of addressing you my modest message: Mr President, I have the honour and great pleasure of being able to very respectfully address this letter to you on my behalf and on behalf of all the people of the Arab Maghreb. Mr President, I come to ask that you accept my request to open the great door of our history with one single gesture of your excellence - a gesture that will make you a giant in the eyes of everyone. Mr President, I ask you to support Morocco’s proposal and our promising project for the autonomy of our southern provinces and to stop your support for the separatists. Mr President, the separatists were created for one purpose: to block the Arab Maghreb Union and weaken the region. They are unscrupulous men who are against our religion, Islam. They are traffickers of arms and munitions. They live off the food given as humanitarian aid to our brothers imprisoned in Tindouf against all humanitarian law and all religions. They threaten the security of both of our countries and could become future terrorists in our region. Mr President, your support for our proposal for autonomy is a path that will lead to the Arab Maghreb Union, making our countries strong and capable of overcoming all difficulties and solving all the problems…
mohamed Posted 2009-04-11
I will not contest Bouteflika’s victory, but with such results, fraud automatically comes to mind. There is a lot to be said about this election, where the outgoing and now incoming president used all the state’s means and even some means in contradiction to some of the countries laws to his ends. He posted campaign 15-square-metre posters before he was supposed to saying in black and white “Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the Republic” when the campaign was just starting. Just like someone else said, he is just acting like his brothers Ben Ali, Gaddafi, Moubarak and Assad. We are not governed according to the law in this Arab world, where we are humiliated by a handful of Israelis and our own heads of state humiliate their people.
tafraoui Posted 2009-04-12
The rabbits in competing with President Bouteflika were wrong for the simple reason that they were hallucinating in thinking they could measure up to a president who has done so much for Algeria. It is true that there will always be the dissatisfied, but it must be understood that it is impossible to satisfy everyone. Long live Algeria! Good luck and stay strong, President of all Algerians!
salim Posted 2009-04-12
Everything what the interior minster Mr Yazid zerhouni said is lies and lies , the maximum turnout did not exceed 20% ,the Algerian people did not vote , everything is fraud . i guess terrorism will never stop as along we got states and Government supporting and working and doing business with Mafia government, i mean Mr Sarkosy and the rest of his EU hypocrite .
maghrebihi Posted 2009-04-12
Just as predicted or, rather, prepared!!! But, what is most surprising is that the turnout was too high or overinflated as is the percent that Bouteflika got! More than 90%!? This is shameful!
Anonymous Posted 2009-04-12
Long live Algeria! Long live Mr Boueflika!
younes Posted 2009-04-12
well first i want to greet boutaflika of won the elections of the vote congratulation man but so sorry don't think u worth it , i got 1 question for him and readers : do u think algerien are fool to vote u by 92.24 percent that's a dream what a clever u are u changed the constitution do u liked the chair ? is it warm ? so u going to sleep another 5 years don't forget to take a duvet tuck your body so scare to get a cold lucky u sleeping and getting money over poor's votes who did not went there half of them knew u will fake the election next time do me a favor make it 100 percent or don't change it to kingdoom no one knows u but moroccan they teach u and show u how to rule us they smartest i confessed i never seen in my life a leader won election by 92.24 of the votes where's the rest i think they lated or maybe they were in toilet as we know junk food upset our bellies so they were doing natural call lol i am not algerien but i passed my comment on behalf of others we not stupid to believe that . i thought if he won he wont cross 51 % but he want more so he told them i want more than 92.24 or don't want to rule algerie hehe anyway better to go do wordsearch cuz i am so fed up of reading this lies and bullshit how long we need to be honest thanks and sorry for my comment always me who likes to pass his comment and i swear don't scare any1 what will be will be there's only one God if i got right i would of change the world not just the countries i really want to have a power to help and sort out ppl's porblem their leaders we got to stand no one can change the society but us thanks ( please if u think there will be a hamr don't publish this as not able to be punished or jail but what can i do i like and love talk about politic here we goes that's life
BENELHADJ CHAABANE Posted 2009-04-13
Hello- I thank the Algerian people for having fulfilled their duty to vote for our kind and adorable president, Mr Bouteflika. They had no other choice but him: no one could save Algeria besides him. The truth must be told. There is no need to hide the truth about God Almighty helping him in his work. May God protect him and his soul. Thank you, people of Algeria. –Your brother, Chaabane Thank you and goodbye.
abdellah Posted 2009-04-13
another five years of the same. no maghreb union unfortunately with this guy. old and closed-minded ill president.
حساموفيتش Posted 2009-04-13
Long live Algeria!
اسماعيل غربي Posted 2009-04-13
The Algerian people taught a lesson to the fanciful group which thinks that it represents a large category of the structure of this people. Through this poll, they understood their awareness about their plans to create division. The people have said their word. Now they have just to obey the will of the nation. We just know that the elections were very transparent and fair. I have said it before today, this meeting will be a big celebration of democracy; the Algerian people would show all the world that it has understood the lesson very well and distinguishes who are its enemies and who are its friends. To conclude, I hope that love and unity spread to all Arab countries and the prevalence of peace in this world. I say to our parties, fight with honour and don’t be a doll in the hands of the enemies of Algeria. Love your country before you perish.
Anonymous Posted 2009-04-15
The man spouting his allegiance to the regime and leaving his name and telephone number in the hopes of I do not know what reward indeed illustrates the moral degradation of one part of the population, which is incapable of resisting the savagery of a tyrannical regime. This degradation is not peculiar to Algeria; during the Nazi occupation of Europe, we saw the spirit of collaboration flourish in the subject populations. For pitiful sums – sometimes even a pack of cigarettes – inhabitants would betray their neighbours, whom the occupying forces were searching for. The tragic end of the victims was the last thing they cared about. During the black years of Communism in Russia and Eastern Europe, we saw the same scenario reproduces with the suck-ups there. Mr Bouteflika, know that the future of a country is built on the strong souls and not on those who bend their backs under your weight. Your Algeria is doing poorly, just like the other countries of your region, which were re-conquered and re-colonised by ruthless, lawless regimes after the departure of the colonial powers. This explains why so many young people are ready to risk their lives at sea in order to go to Europe, where you point your finger and yet where you also hasten your personal airplane in order to get medical care when you get an owie. Your method of humiliating the people did not work for the other dictators: the Nasser’s valiant soldiers took of their shoes in the desert sands to better flee fled the approach of the Israeli soldiers and Saddam’s Republican Guard did a striptease to the “t” of the term in order to get their uniforms off at the approach of the American forces. Make no mistake about this.
mohamed Posted 2009-04-16
Mr Chaabane (whose name is indeed common here)- You have the right to support Bouteflika, but what is it with leaving your telephone number? The adoration you have for your beloved adorable president leaves me perplexed. Are you among the ranks of people who benefited from his official pardon? Are your hands soaked in blood? I hope not. The style of South Korea’s Kim Il-Sung is quite evident in your comment. We saw suck-ups in Boumedienne’s, Chadli’s and Zeroual’s time. In sum, “The King is dead! Long live the King!” If Saddam were still alive, he would tell us of his bodyguard who later denounced him to the Americans. Is Bouteflika’s re-election the climb to the top of the rollercoaster, just before the drop? The announced results support this hypothesis.
djaouti mohamed cherif Posted 2009-04-16
Congratulations my big brother! I wish you an excellent, constructive and effective career in your third term. –Signed, The Messiah, The Imam, The Christ, The Messiah, called Aissa. (There are 1.7 billion Muslims waiting except Algeria.)
taha Posted 2009-04-18
To Sarkozy, democracy means being elected at least three times. Take a look at Berlusconi!
rashid Posted 2009-04-22
Algeria is officially a Kingdom. recently Kaddafi annouced himself "a king of kings", which makes Libya a kingdom as well, tunisia in the other hand, ben ali has been a president for a really really long time, a kingdome in essence. welcome to United Maghreb Kingdoms
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