Algeria Holds Legislative Elections with Low Voter Turnout and Candidate Bans

阿爾及利亞舉行立法機關選舉，投票率低且有候選人被禁參選

Jul 2, 2026, 20:03
AfricaPolitics

Introduction

On July 2, 2026, Algerian citizens voted to elect members for the 407-seat lower house of Parliament.

2026年7月2日，阿爾及利亞公民投票選出議會下議院 407 個席位的議員。

Main Body

The current election has been marked by strict government rules and economic instability. The electoral authority disqualified 269 candidates, claiming they were involved in 'suspicious political activities' and 'illegal financial networks.' This decision specifically affected members of the Islamist MSP party and people connected to the Hirak pro-democracy movement, which caused President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign in 2019. Furthermore, under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, there has been a clear decrease in media, union, and political freedoms.

本次選舉的特點是政府規定嚴格以及經濟不穩定。選舉機關取消了 269 位候選人的資格，聲稱他們參與了「可疑的政治活動」和「非法財務網絡」。這項決定特別影響了伊斯蘭主義 MSP 黨的成員，以及與 2019 年導致總統布特夫利卡（Abdelaziz Bouteflika）辭職的 Hirak 民主運動相關的人士。此外，在總統特本（Abdelmadjid Tebboune）的領導下，媒體、工會和政治自由明顯下降。

Different political groups have expressed varying views on the situation. The presidential majority, led by the FLN, emphasized that a high voter turnout is necessary to ensure national stability. On the other hand, the Trotskyist Workers' Party argued for higher wages and changes to mining laws that favor foreign companies, while the Socialist Forces Front focused on the release of political prisoners. Despite these efforts, public interest remained very low; the electoral commission reported a turnout of only 11.24% by 3:00 PM. This lack of interest is likely due to citizens worrying about the rising cost of living and poor public services.

不同的政治團體對此情況表達了不同的看法。由 FLN 領導的總統多數派強調，高投票率對於確保國家穩定至關重要。另一方面，托洛茨基主義的工人黨主張提高工資並修改有利於外國公司的採礦法，而社會力量陣線則專注於釋放政治犯。儘管有這些努力，公眾興趣依然非常低；選舉委員會報告稱，截至下午 3 點，投票率僅為 11.24%。這種缺乏興趣可能是由於公民擔心生活成本上升和公共服務低劣。

To encourage more people to vote, the government took several steps. For example, they made the election day a paid national holiday and provided free public transport. In the southern and Saharan regions, voting began 48 hours early using mobile polling stations. Additionally, about 854,225 registered citizens living abroad voted earlier at consular offices, which the state news agency described as a friendly and family-like atmosphere.

為了鼓勵更多人投票，政府採取了幾項措施。例如，他們將選舉日定為有薪全國假期，並提供免費公共交通。在南部和撒哈拉地區，投票提前 48 小時開始，並使用行動投票站。此外，約 854,225 名居住在海外的登記公民早前在領事辦公室投票，國家通訊社將其描述為友好且像家庭般的氛圍。

Conclusion

Voting ended at 8:00 PM local time, and officials have now started counting the votes.

投票於當地時間晚上 8 點結束，官員現在已開始計票。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡ The 'Logic Leap': Moving from Simple to Complex Connections

An A2 student says: "People did not vote. They were worried about money." A B2 speaker says: "Public interest remained low due to citizens worrying about the rising cost of living."

To reach B2, you must stop using short, choppy sentences and start using Complex Linkers. This allows you to explain why things happen in a single, professional breath.

🧩 The 'Reason' Toolkit

In this text, we see a sophisticated way to explain cause and effect. Instead of always using "because," look at these patterns:

  1. "Due to" + [Noun Phrase]

    • Example from text: "...due to citizens worrying about the rising cost of living."
    • B2 Secret: You don't need a full sentence after "due to." You just need a noun or a gerund (the -ing form).
    • Try this: Instead of "I was late because it rained," try "I was late due to the heavy rain."

  2. "Marked by"

    • Example from text: "The current election has been marked by strict government rules..."
    • B2 Secret: This is a high-level way to describe a situation. Instead of saying "There were strict rules," using "marked by" suggests a characteristic or a trend.

🛠️ Vocabulary Upgrade: Precision over Simplicity

B2 is about choosing the exact word rather than the easy word. Notice the shift in the article:

A2 Word (Simple)B2 Word (Precise)Context in Article
Stop / BanDisqualifiedCandidates were removed from the race.
DifferentVaryingDifferent political groups had different views.
Help / MakeEnsureTo make sure national stability happens.
Give / OfferProvidedThe government gave free transport.

💡 Pro Tip: The 'Contrast' Pivot

Watch how the text uses "On the other hand." At A2, you use "But." At B2, you use "On the other hand" to balance two different political arguments. It signals to the listener: 'I am now switching to a completely different perspective.'

Vocabulary Learning

legislative (adj.)
Relating to the laws of a country or the process of making them.
Example:The legislative body is responsible for debating and passing new laws.
instability (n.)
A state of being unstable; a lack of predictability or steadiness, often in politics or economics.
Example:Political instability in the region has led to a decrease in foreign investment.
disqualified (v.)
To be officially declared ineligible for a competition, office, or privilege.
Example:The athlete was disqualified from the race for starting before the signal.
emphasized (v.)
To give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing.
Example:The teacher emphasized the importance of reviewing the vocabulary before the exam.
turnout (n.)
The number of people who attend a particular event or vote in an election.
Example:The city reported a surprisingly high voter turnout for the local elections.
Practice B2 words in a crossword→