Friday 14 March 2014

Islamist Party to Boycott Algeria 2014 Elections


In the most recent news, the Islamist party has announced that they will be boycotting the Algeria 2014 elections.




Abdelaziz Bouteflika is facing stiff opposition when he heads to the Algeria 2014 election in mid-April of this year. Namely, he’ll have to contend with people’s favorite, Ali Benflis, who connects with the rising group of persons under the age of 35, who represent more than 70 percent of the election. But he won’t have to contend with the Movement of Society for Peace party—which has recently announced that they will be boycotting the election in accordance with a number of other major parties, citing concerns of fraud.

In a recent interview with Fox News, the party stated that “conditions weren't right for a free choice for Algerians.” While the party has taken part in most elections in the past, this will represent the first time that they will be abstaining.

In the previous May, 2012 legislative election, the government stated a turnout of about 43 percent versus what local news agencies and reporters claimed was a meager 30 percent, causing unrest and discontent over viable instances of election fraud. A number of party observers even witnessed people submitting damaged or voided ballots. And many noted that the numbers were disparately different than what they witnessed when the government announced the official results.

The Algeria 2014 election looms just around the corner. A country that’s already beset by civil and political unrest, a rising insurgency and no sign of a middle class, with a large portion of the nation destitute, it could be a disaster if Bouteflika is elected again. Meanwhile, about 70 percent of the nation is under the age of 35, whereas the ruling parties are comprised of elderly war heroes from the independence days. The majority of the nation is eagerly awaiting a president that represents the will of the people.  

If Bouteflika does win again, and if the elections are deemed as fraud, it could spell a long Arab Spring for Algeria.

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