 Algeria's ruling coalition won a reduced majority in a parliamentary election shunned by voters who believed it offered few answers to their everyday problems.
| ... election shunned by voters who believed it offered few answers to their everyday problems... |
Announcing the results yesterday, Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said poor participation and a large number of spoiled ballots in Thursday's poll had led to the lowest ever turnout of 35 per cent. “It demonstrates that citizens expect politics to adapt more concretely and more convincingly to changes in Algerian society. The people have shown they are demanding," he said.
| They ran on promises to deliver more jobs and state-subsidised homes, an effort most Algerians say is unfolding far too slowly despite a bonanza from oil exports. |
Many in this north African country regard parliament as a weak institution cowed by a powerful president. The National Liberation Front (FLN) won 136 seats, the pro-business Rally for National Democracy (RND) 61, and the moderate Islamist Movement for Society (MSP) and Peace 52. They ran on promises to deliver more jobs and state-subsidised homes, an effort most Algerians say is unfolding far too slowly despite a bonanza from oil exports. |