ALGERIA: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika casts his ballot in a parliamentary election which officials say will bring democracy to a country left behind by the 'Arab Spring' revolts, but public scepticism is a concern as many abstain from voting

Record ID: 574095

  • Title: ALGERIA: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika casts his ballot in a parliamentary election which officials say will bring democracy to a country left behind by the 'Arab Spring' revolts, but public scepticism is a concern as many abstain from voting
  • Date: 11th May 2012
  • Summary: BOUTEFLIKA WALKING OUT SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1IC68UO9Q04RH50X4A5Q5EJYI
  • Story Text: Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in his third term of rule, cast his vote in his country's legislative election on Thursday (May 10), following a speech this week in which he declared the end of his generation and need for new political figures.
    Algerians voted on Thursday for a new parliament that officials say will bring democracy to a country left behind by the "Arab Spring" revolts, but many people showed their scepticism by abstaining.
    Last year's uprisings in the region left Algeria under pressure to reform and renew the ageing establishment that has ruled without interruption since independence from France half a century ago.
    The authorities in Algeria, which supplies about a fifth of Europe's imported natural gas, have responded by promising a steady transition towards more democracy, starting with Thursday's vote.
    The secretary-general of Algeria's biggest and oldest party FLN (National Liberation Front, known by its French initials), Abdelaziz Belkhadem called Thursday's vote a celebration for the country, after he cast his ballot.
    "Today is a celebration for Algeria, it is a celebration for democracy. This will deepen our path to democracy, the path is laid for the people to rule and make decisions, today the people are having their say," said Belkhadem who added he was confident about people voting for his party.
    Belkhadem survived an internal party coup last month and he acknowledges some conflict within the party but said it was normal and the there was no crisis within FLN.
    The vote is likely, for the first time in Algeria's history, to make Islamist parties the biggest bloc in the 462-seat national assembly, say diplomats and analysts. That will be in keeping with a trend in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere since the "Arab Spring."
    However, there is little chance that will lead to radical change: the Islamists who are expected to dominate are moderate and loyal to the ruling establishment. Several of their leaders are already ministers in the government.
    The election is likely to be the fairest and most transparent in 20 years, even though diplomats say it could be flawed. It is expected to give the biggest share of seats in parliament to moderate Islamists, mirroring the trend since the "Arab Spring" in countries such as Egypt and Tunisia.
    However, many Algerians distrust the promises of reform. The election is shaping up to be less a contest between political parties and more a tug-of-war between the authorities and a large contingent who think voting is pointless.
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