Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Algeria Confirms Tebboune Winner of Presidential Poll

Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP)

Algeria's constitutional council Monday released final presidential election results, confirming victory for Abdelmadjid Tebboune, albeit on a low turnout.

Tebboune, once a prime minister under Abdelaziz Bouteflika -- who resigned under huge pressure from protests in April -- officially won 58.13 percent in Thursday's election.

The figure was little changed from the 58.15 percent in the provisional results, which had already negated any need for a second round.

His nearest challenger, Abdelkader Bengrina, an Islamist, won 17.4 percent of the vote.

The turnout was 39.88 percent, according to the constitutional council, the lowest since the advent of pluralism.

Huge demonstrations have continued since Bouteflika stepped down, with protesters staunchly opposing the poll, which they saw as a ploy by the establishment to shore up its waning power.

All five candidates approved by authorities to run had links to the former president, including another of his former prime ministers, Ali Benflis.

Maghreb expert and historian Karima Direche told AFP at the weekend she believed turnout may have been less than 20 percent.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.