Algerians vote Sunday on a constitutional revision supposed to lay the foundations for a “new Algeria” after more than a year and a half of popular protest. A poll which took place in the absence of its initiator, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, hospitalized abroad.
If the victory of the “yes” is hardly in doubt, the main stake is participation. She was very weak already at midday. Only 13% against 39% in the presidential election in December 2019, which was already a historically low rate. And it was only 18.44% at 5 p.m., according to Mohamed Charfi, president of the National Independent Election Authority (ANIE).
The 61,000 polling stations closed at 7 p.m. CET and this referendum therefore seemed to be heading towards record abstention and a stinging setback for the regime.
The date of the referendum was not chosen by chance: November 1 marks the anniversary of the start of the War of Independence against the French colonial power. “The Algerian people will once again be at the rendezvous with history to make the expected change, Sunday, November 1, with a view to instituting a new era capable of achieving the aspirations of our people for a strong State, modern and democratic “, had expected President Tebboune in a message relayed Saturday by the official APS agency.
Why is this referendum contested?
Problem: this referendum suffered even before the start of the vote from a lack of legitimacy. Opponents denounce the repression to which they are subject and supporters of “Hirak”, the popular movement which led ex-President Bouteflika to resign, boycott this referendum.
If the new Constitution puts forward a series of rights and freedoms, it maintains the essence of an “ultra presidential” regime and which even broadens the prerogatives of the army. For these Hirak supporters, the referendum is therefore only a change of facade. Above all, they are calling for a deep break with the political “system” in place since independence.
The ballot took place in a climate of “relentless” repression targeting for months “Hirak” activists, political opponents, journalists and Internet users, according to human rights defenders. According to the CNLD, some 90 people are currently behind bars, most of them for Facebook posts.
Social networks have reported incidents – night walks, ballot boxes and ballots destroyed – in Kabylia. Many polling stations have not opened in this traditionally rebellious region, according to local media. Arrests took place in Algiers and Tizi Ouzou, according to the National Committee for the Release of Detainees (CNLD).
