1999 Algerian presidential election
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Registered | 17,488,759 | ||||||||||||||||
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Turnout | 60.91% | ||||||||||||||||
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Member State of the African Union Member State of the Arab League |
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Algeria portal |
Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 15 April 1999. Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected with 73.8% of the vote after the other six candidates withdrew on the eve of the elections.
Background
Incumbent president
The elections took place amidst a backdrop of continuing conflict in the Algerian Civil War. Restoring peace to the country was the major election issue.[2]
Candidates
The frontrunner was former
The other candidates included Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi, a former education and foreign minister, who received backing from the outlawed Islamic Salvation Front (FIS). He supported talking with the FIS and for the military to withdraw from politics. Another candidate Abdallah Djaballah, the founder of the Movement for National Reform, called for a government of national unity to be formed.[5]
Two former
Youcef Khatib was an independent candidate and former advisor to Zéroual's 1995 election campaign.
Mass withdrawal
Fewer than 24 hours before the elections, all candidates except Bouteflika withdrew, claiming the vote would not be fair.
Zéroual refused to meet the candidates to discuss their grievances and criticised them for withdrawing, describing the move as illegal.[6][9]
Results
Official figures showed turnout to be 61% with Bouteflika winning easily. However, the other candidates claimed that turnout was much lower, with Ibrahimi estimating it had only been around 25%.[9]
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abdelaziz Bouteflika | National Liberation Front | 7,445,045 | 73.76 | |
Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi | Independent | 1,265,594 | 12.54 | |
Abdallah Djaballah | Movement for National Reform | 400,080 | 3.96 | |
Hocine Aït Ahmed | Socialist Forces Front | 321,179 | 3.18 | |
Mouloud Hamrouche | Independent | 314,160 | 3.11 | |
Mokdad Sifi | Independent | 226,139 | 2.24 | |
Youcef Khatib | Independent | 121,414 | 1.20 | |
Total | 10,093,611 | 100.00 | ||
Valid votes | 10,093,611 | 94.75 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 559,012 | 5.25 | ||
Total votes | 10,652,623 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 17,488,759 | 60.91 | ||
Source: Psephos |
References
- ^ "Algeria president springs suprise [sic]". BBC Online. 1998-09-11. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- ^ a b c "Algeria launches election campaign". BBC Online. 1999-03-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- ^ "Algeria to go to polls". BBC Online. 1999-02-13. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ "Algerian army plays with fire". Al-Ahram. 1999-03-18. Archived from the original on 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ a b c "Profile: The candidates who pulled out". BBC Online. 1999-04-15. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ a b "Algerian Election Turmoil". CBS News. 1999-04-14. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ Burns, John F. (1999-04-16). "With a Field Reduced to One, Algerians Vote". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
- ^ a b "Algerian fury over poll result". BBC Online. 1999-04-16. Retrieved 2008-08-04.