Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was declared the winner of the recent election after securing 95% of the vote, but with a low voter turnout of only 48%, Reuters reports.
Rival candidate Abdelaali Hassani Cherif, who received 3% of the vote, contested the results alleging irregularities, including pressure on polling officials to inflate results and proxy group voting. Cherif and other candidates issued a statement questioning the preliminary results. However, the electoral commission defended the transparency of the election.
Tebboune, backed by the military, is expected to maintain his economic and social policies, including social spending programs funded by rising energy revenues. Despite economic challenges like unemployment and high inflation, Tebboune remains popular due to wage and benefit increases.