Algerian voters remain disillusioned

26/11/2007

Voters in Algeria are proving ever harder to convince. As elections draw near, the public is divided and highly critical of the candidates standing.

By Mouna Sadek for Magharebia in Algiers – 26/11/07

[Getty Images] Some residents say the November ballot represents an opportunity to reject incompetent or unscrupulous officials.

With just days remaining before Algeria's local elections, scheduled for November 29th, many candidates are finding their campaign efforts thwarted by an increasingly sceptical electorate.

While some see the local elections as an important step in barring the incompetent and the unscrupulous from entering national public office, many are unconvinced the vote will have any impact whatsoever.

"Once again, there will be no surprises in the elections. I can’t see any changes heading our way. Voting in Algeria is like continuing to believe in Father Christmas," said Karim, 32, a telecommunications worker.

"We're more worried about the high cost of living, the housing crisis and how impossible it is to obtain bank credit, and we’re tired of hearing promises which won’t last," he said.

Mourad, an unemployed man living in the town of Rouiba, near Algiers, said the candidates’ promises "ring hollow".

"I've carefully followed the points being made by party officials on television," he said. "To my mind, there's not one concrete proposal. Only a few party leaders have actually gone from district to district around the country."

Mourad said the same people keep coming back to seek a second term. "If they had good programmes to implement, why weren't they done during their first terms? A number of communes have been mired in scandal. For some of them, being voted into office is a chance to be noticed in business and to make a name for themselves," he said.

Nabil, a young political science student, felt similarly. "As usual, they’re passing off old as new. The problem is not the elections, we need them; but we also need to know what the elected representatives will do with them," he said, adding that he would have liked to see lists of young candidates. "Even if they made mistakes, it would enable them to learn."

The student also expressed his regret that popular assemblies in the wilayas and communes have little power to change things. "Everything is in the hands of the executive," he said. "They have the power to set up committees, but they have no power to make decisions."

When interviewed, many passersby expressed frustration at this lack of power in local institutions. It is one of the main reasons many say they will not vote in the upcoming elections.

Mohammed, a fortyish white-collar worker in a private company, is also sceptical. "Yes, I'll go and vote," he said. "Show me a citizen who doesn't want the best for his country, his area or his village."

"But when we read in our papers what’s going on in town halls across Algeria, is it any wonder people rebel? How can an elected official look after the people’s affairs when the communes have ground to a halt? The state does everything. So what’s the use of electing a mayor? Our communal authorities are basically desks issuing identity papers."

Other citizens feel, on the other hand, that the November ballot is a good opportunity to get rid of elected officials who are incompetent or unscrupulous.

Akli, a teacher, stressed the importance of being pragmatic. "I need a home so that I can marry and set up a little family. Since commune chairmen are responsible for drawing up the lists of those who will benefit from social housing, I’m going to vote for the one who seems the most honest. Then there is a chance I might be on the list," he said.

Others say a boycott offers no answer to Algeria’s problems. "We mustn't let ourselves be governed by incompetents," said Nora, a wilaya employee in Algiers. "So we must vote en masse on November 29th – that is how we can hold elected officials accountable for every decision taken without our knowing."

"It's easy to blame elected representatives," she said, "but all the same, we the public must be responsible and take things seriously."