2009 Algerian presidential election

9 April 2009
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. 1 2 "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.
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