Algerian Commission: Elections Lack Credibility

Photo Credit: Reuters

The Algerian National Independent Commission of Legislative Election Surveillance (CNISEL) released [French] their 71 page report of the May 10 elections this week, criticizing the government for interference at every step of the electoral process. The Commission expressed [French] disappointment in the gap between official promises of election neutrality and the traditional voter manipulation that took place. The Commission lacks the power, however, to nullify the vote.

At the opening session of the new parliament Saturday, 60 legislators, mostly from the Green Algerian Alliance, walked out in protest of electoral fraud. Others in parliament called the session a “return to the one-party era” of reigning National Liberation Front.

On the occasion of Africa Day, the Tehran Times and the Islamic Republic News Agency published this week separate interviews with the Algerian Ambassador to Iran and his Iranian counterpart to Algeria. Both interviews highlighted the two countries’ strong ties and hopes for long term economic and cultural cooperation.