2009 Algerian presidential election

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2009 Algerian presidential election

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Registered20,595,683
Turnout74.56%
 
Nominee Abdelaziz Bouteflika Louisa Hanoune
Party FLN PT
Popular vote 13,019,787 649,632
Percentage 90.23% 4.50%

President before election

Abdelaziz Bouteflika
FLN

Elected President

Abdelaziz Bouteflika
FLN

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 planned constitutional revision would remove the two-term limit on the presidency that was previously included in Article 74, thereby enabling Bouteflika to run for a third term.[1] The People's National Assembly endorsed the removal of the term limit on 12 November 2008, with only the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) voting against its removal.[2]

Candidates

Thirteen candidates submitted papers to contest the election, but only six were approved to run:[3]

Although some urged former President Liamine Zéroual to run, he said in a published statement on 14 January 2009 that he would not, while also suggesting that it was not in the best interests of democracy for Bouteflika to run for a third term.[5]

RCD President Saïd Sadi announced on 15 January 2009 that the RCD would not participate in the elections, which he described as a "pathetic and dangerous circus", saying that to participate "would be tantamount to complicity in an operation of national humiliation".[2]

Bouteflika announced his independent candidacy for a third term at a rally in Algiers on 12 February 2009,[6] and officially submitted his candidacy on 23 February, shortly before the deadline.[7]

Results

The official turnout of 75% was disputed by the opposition, with some claiming it was as low as 16%.[8]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Abdelaziz BouteflikaNational Liberation Front13,019,78790.23
Louisa HanouneWorkers' Party649,6324.50
Moussa TouatiAlgerian National Front294,4112.04
Djahid YounsiMovement for National Reform208,5491.45
Mohammed SaidIndependent133,3150.92
Ali Fawzi RebaineAhd 54124,5590.86
Total14,430,253100.00
Valid votes14,430,25393.97
Invalid/blank votes925,7716.03
Total votes15,356,024100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,595,68374.56
Source: Electoral Studies

References

  1. ^ "Algérie: vers la suppression de la limitation des mandats présidentiels" AFP, 3 November 2008 (in French).
  2. ^ a b "Algerian opposition pulls out of 'pathetic' presidential vote", AFP, 15 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Algerian poll contenders unveiled", BBC, 3 March 2009.
  4. ^ Ahmed Aghrout (2009) "The presidential election in Algeria, April 2009" Electoral Studies Vol 29, pp171–195
  5. ^ William Maclean, "Algeria ex-leader will not run for top job", Reuters (IOL), 14 January 2009.
  6. ^ "Bouteflika seeks third term in office", Reuters (IOL), 12 February 2009.
  7. ^ "Algerian president submits candidacy", AFP, 23 February 2009.
  8. ^ "Rachad: 16 % was the real participation rate in the elections of 9 April 2009". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2011-01-24.