Municipal elections reshape Algeria's political landscape

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-26 05:57:14|Editor: yan
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ALGIERS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Libya's National Liberation Front (FLN) and the National Democratic Rally (RND) have grabbed a landslide win in the sixth municipal and prefecture elections since 1989, which reshaped the country's political landscape.

The two ruling parties in Algeria won the municipal and prefecture elections amid remarkable drop of Islamist parties over the emergence of some newly established parties.

FLN snatched the top position by winning majority in 603 APCs, or 30.56 percent of the existing 1,451 municipalities nationwide, and won 711 seats at prefect assemblies, the equivalent of 35.48 percent of the exiting 48 APWs nationwide, Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui told a press conference on Friday.

The second ruling party, namely the National Democratic Rally (RND) came second in these polls, as it collected majority in 451 municipal assemblies, with 26.21 percent of the total seats.

RND won 527 seats at prefect assemblies, with 26 per cent of the total seats.

These two ruling parties thus managed to grab majority both at local assemblies and at parliament.

However, the Islamist Movement for Society of Peace (MSP), the largest opposition power at parliament, fell to fifth place in the municipalities with only 49 APCs, (4.92 percent).

But the MSP maintained its good presence at prefect assemblies by winning third place with 152 seats, which constitutes 7.58 percent of the total seats.

Yet, the Islamist parties all together came third in these elections, regarding the number of seats obtained by the different Islamist parties at both municipal and prefect assemblies.

The newly established Mustakbal Front party (Future Front), a dissident party from FLN, won majority in 71 APCs.

The Mustakbal Front did well in these elections, as it managed to overcome the largest Islamist party, of MSP.

The leftist party of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) won majority in 64 APCs, while the Algerian Popular Movement (MPA) grabbed majority in 62 municipalities.

The secular Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) won majority in 37 municipalities.

According to Interior Minister, the voter turnout hit 46.93 percent at municipal assemblies' poll, and 44.96 percent at prefect assemblies' poll.

He said that this ballot confirms more and more Algeria's determination to move forward to consolidate the rule of law and respect for democratic norms.

He said that "today, Algeria is on the correct construction path outlined by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika by establishing the values of peace and reconciliation which are the basis of stability and cohesion of society in light of the fluctuations experienced by the region."

He added "the Algerians have demonstrated in calm, responsible and optimistic way their will to look forward to a better future, rejecting all despair calls aiming at killing hope in this nation."

Some 22.8 million people are eligible to vote, while 10.5 millions cast their vote at APCs polls, while 10.1 participated in APWs polls, according to official figures.

These polls are the sixth of their kind since the Algeria adopted multiparty system in 1989.

As many as 165,000 candidates run for APC elections, while 16,000 candidates contested to grab seats at the 48 prefect assemblies nationwide.

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