Indifference hangs over Algerian street before election campaign

A state of indifference prevails in the Algerian street before the campaign for the 2017 legislative elections. The atmosphere of the elections was completely absent in rural areas and villages, and it was confined to the walls of the political parties' buildings and the headquarters of the electoral campaigns.

During the early hours of the first day of the electoral campaign in Algeria, the interaction was little, except for the awareness campaigns launched by the Algerian Ministry of Interior, to urge citizens to go to the polls on May 4. There is nothing to show that Algeria has entered a campaign to elect a new legislature.

The exchange of accusations was dominated by speeches made by leaders of the authority and the opposition against the background of the oil price collapse crisis, which Algeria began to experience it from the beginning of 2014. 

The Secretary-General of the National Democratic Rally and the Director of the Court of the Presidency Ahmed Ouyahia, strongly criticized the opposition in Algeria, accusing them of lying to the Algerians. Ouyahia called on the citizens to go to vote strongly for the stability of Algeria, and to continue development efforts in various fields and to form a strong parliament that responds to the aspirations of the homeland and its objectives.

The head of the Movement for a Society of Peace, the largest organization of the Muslim Brothers in Algeria, Abdel Razzaq Moukri, announced the movement's rejection of the speech of "insulting", considering that this would serve only the Algerian authority, noting that it is necessary to place the national interest above all considerations.

The Algerian citizen is living in a state of discontent and resentment because of the insane rise in the prices of vegetables, fruits and materials of widespread consumption.

Over a period of three weeks, more than 50 political parties and free lists are competing. The Algerian Interior Minister revealed that the ministry created all the circumstances to launch the electoral campaign, adding that it will allocate about five thousand spaces, to accommodate the electoral gatherings.

 The number of voters involved in the legislative elections, following the exceptional review of the electoral rolls, is estimated at more than 23 million voters. The Algerian government has allocated more than 53,000 electoral offices, including 390 to the Algerian community living abroad, supervised by 500,000 people.

The head of the Independent High Electoral Observation Body, Abdul Wahab Darbal, said that the number of international observers who will attend the elections will be more than 300, representing the African Union, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union. The Algerian government has prevented the media from opening the door to those calling for a boycott of the legislative elections. The Ministry of Communications called on the media to ensure an equitable, impartial and objective opening line.