Tazeen Akhtar / Islamabad / Pakistan
ALGERIA , The largest country in the continent of Africa is electing her new President today.It is early election and the reasons for that as mentioned by incumbent President are “purely technical reasons” in June this year. The details of the technicalities are not available and known.But certainly Algeria is coping with many challenges at different levels that require a strong and stable country to prove equal to the task.
Independent National Election Authority, a constitutional body established in 2019 is overseeing the polls for the transparency and fairness in the process. The election is being observed as on a crucial and pivotal juncture in the context of national revival, regional and international challenges.
Algeria has approximately 24.4 million registered votes.More than 865,000 Algerians living abroad began casting their votes earlier. Polling started at 8 AM local time and closing time is 7 PM that can be extended one hour to 8 PM. Voting also commenced for nomadic voters in designated mobile polling stations, with 116,064 registered voters spread across 134 voting offices.
Last Presidential Election was held in Dec 2019 and the latest was expected in Dec but the incumbent President , in June this year announced 7 Sep as the date. The reason given was , it is the best time because summer vacation ends and new classes begin in the education institutions. The opponents criticized the decision for the campaign remained within the high temperature days.
Algerian Embassy in Islamabad organised early presidential elections, 7 September 2024, voting operation started from 5 to 7 September, with a large participation of the Algerian community in Pakistan. H.E. Brahim Romani made necessary arrangements to facilitate to Algerian citizens residents in Pakistan to use their right of vote in a free and fair manner.
( Polling is going on at the Embassy of Algeria in Islamabad , Pakistan )
There are 3 candidates in the run including the incumbent President Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Independent).He won the last election with 58% votes. Other 2 candidates are, Mr. Abdelaali Hassani Cherif,leader of the Movement of Society for Peace,Algeria’s largest Islamic party, often associated with the Muslim Brotherhood and Mr. Youcef Aouchiche, First Secretary of the Socialist Forces Front. Number is the senior most while number 3 is the youngest at age of 42 only.
The most pleasant part of the election campaign of the candidates was when all renewed their appeal to citizens to vote massively for a strong, stable and united Algeria. It was the 20th day of the campaign on 03 Sep 2024.
ALGERIA STRONGLY REJECTS FRENCH SHIFT OF POLICY ON WESTERN SAHARA IN FAVOR OF MOROCCO
1-President Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Independent) 82, aims to achieve a GDP of $400 billion by 2027. He is contesting his re-election convincing the young people to give them “their rightful place” through several measures and provisions, including “the creation of jobs with decent salaries.”
His other pledges are ; Algerian economy “the second largest in Africa,” – creating 450,000 jobs, building two (2) million housing units, increasing salaries, allowances, and university grants, allowance to housewives, and boosting citizens’ purchasing power, create 20,000 investment projects, support farmers, end wheat, corn, and barley imports, increase irrigated areas, and “definitively solve” the problem of drinking water supply “by the end of 2024, to “close the file on the status of teachers and paramedical staff by 2025”, reinforce child protection, review the administrative division, create new provinces, review the communal code, continue to address the concerns of the national community abroad, and further strengthen People’s National Army (PNA).
On a lighter note, all of his pledges and offers are great but ALLOWANCE for House Wives is the most influential card to play upon. House Wives themselves are attracted and certainly the wives have the power to make their husbands cast vote in favor of “Right” candidate.
He reiterates his firm commitment to supporting just cause of the Palestinian and Sahrawi people. He calls on Algerians to vote massively so that “Algeria can triumph over its enemies.”
Algeria’s efforts at the United Nations To stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip
2- Abdelaali Hassani Cherif, 58 has done 62 commitments for “solutions to the various concerns of Algerians,” pledging to “involve everyone in their fulfillment through a political partnership that offers opportunity to all Algerians.”
Commitments also include “the revision of the legislative and legal system, the separation of powers and development taking into account the principle of social justice and equal opportunities, as well as the exploitation of wealth, the encouragement of investment and the development of industries. Review the administrative division and create economic hubs”, while “focusing on human resources through the promotion of the education, training, health and services sectors. Involving the members of the national community abroad in economic, development and social programs.”
Algerian Foreign Minister Represents the President @ China Africa Summit
