Algeria opens parliamentary vote in post-Hirak election test

Algeria began voting on Thursday in parliamentary elections that will determine the composition of the 407-member National People's Assembly. The nationwide ballot is the second legislative election held since the 2019 Hirak protest movement, which resulted in the resignation of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after two decades in power.

Polling underway across the country

State television reported that polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time across all 69 provinces, with voting scheduled to continue until 7 p.m. Footage broadcast during the morning showed voters casting their ballots in the southwestern provinces of Tindouf and Bechar, as well as in the eastern border province of Tebessa.

More than 24 million eligible voters have been called to participate in the election, choosing representatives for the National People's Assembly, Algeria's lower house of parliament.

Parliament includes overseas representation

The new legislature will consist of 407 seats, including 12 allocated to Algerian citizens living abroad. The election is expected to shape the country's legislative agenda as authorities continue political and economic reforms in the years following the 2019 protests.

The vote is being closely watched as an indicator of public participation and confidence in Algeria's political institutions during a period of continued institutional transition.

Legacy of the Hirak movement

The parliamentary election comes several years after the Hirak movement mobilized nationwide demonstrations demanding political change. The protests ultimately brought an end to Abdelaziz Bouteflika's 20-year presidency and marked a turning point in Algeria's modern political history.