President Abdelmadjid Tebboune will seek a second term in the September elections

An announcement that puts an end to a suspense that was no longer one. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced on Thursday, July 11, his intention to run for a second term, two months before the presidential election. Aged 78, he was elected in 2019 and his term was due to end in December. In March, he announced that an early presidential election would be held on September 7.

Abdelmadjid Tebboune won the last election, marked by a high abstention rate, with 58% of the vote. He succeeded Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced to resign in 2019 under pressure from the army and the Hirak, a popular protest movement. The Algerian government’s decision to bring forward the election date surprised observers and no reason has been given to explain the early holding of the next election. The list of successful candidates will be announced on July 27 and the Constitutional Council will rule on appeals on August 3.

Several figures have already announced their candidacies, including the first secretary of the Front of Socialist Forces, the oldest opposition party in Algeria, Youcef Aouchiche, and the president of the Movement of Society for Peace, the country’s main Islamist party, Abdelaali Hassani. Three women have also announced their candidacies for the presidency: the leader of the Workers’ Party, Louisa Hanoune, the businesswoman Saida Neghza, head of one of the largest employers’ organizations, and Zoubida Assoul, a lawyer committed to defending freedoms.