Algeria's Elections – President Tebboune Represents 'The Most Dangerous Totalitarianism'

On September 8, 2024, Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected for a second mandate as Algeria's president with 94.7 percent of the vote,[1] following an election boycotted by a part of the opposition. The Algerian authorities announced that the turnout to the September 7 elections was 48.03 percent. This rate is higher than that of the 2019 presidential elections, which was 39.88 percent,[2] but in the region of Kabylia less than one percent of voters participated in the vote.[3]

The Algerian media outlet Le Matin d'Algérie described Tebboune as a "mythomaniac" and as a "man who embodies the antithesis of democracy,"[4] stating that September 7 elections are nothing but a "parody." "Abdelmadjid Tebboune represents the typical profile of the head of state in office who is guaranteed to succeed himself in a fake competition with candidates, who seemed to be wallowing in a game of connivance, of a self-serving consensus," wrote the Algerian media outlet, adding that, for the Algerian authorities, these "elections" are a referendum on the popularity of the head of state, and this is why the turnout was obtained "at the cost of arithmetic practices worthy of the Soviet era."[5]

Tebboune's legacy of his first mandate (2019-2024) as president is constituted by "226 prisoners of conscience, dozens of Algerians who flee Algeria every day on makeshift boats, 49 people sentenced to death, unsustainable inflation, and a political scene anesthetized by terror."[6] "[Hence,] Tebboune can embody neither hope nor change. He is the embodiment of the most perilous paralysis for the country," "Le Matin d'Algérie" stated.[7] In fact, "Le Matin d'Algérie" wrote that to vote for Tebboune means to choose "the most dangerous totalitarianism."[8] It is therefore not surprising that, under Tebboune, Algeria keeps with its political tradition of aligning itself with anti-liberal powers to counter the collective West. An example of this is Algeria's relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Source: Le Matin d'Algérie)

Tebboune On "The Convergence Of Views" Between Algeria And Iran

In March 2024, Tebboune met with Iran's then president Ebrahim Raisi in Algiers. It was the first time in 14 years that an Iranian head of state visited Algiers. The two leaders signed five cooperation agreements, the most important ones on energy.[9] During the press conference, Tebboune underlined "the convergence of views" between Algeria and Iran. He further applauded "the positions of the Iranian leadership, backing the Palestinian people and rejecting the Zionist aggression amid the shameful silence of some countries." Recalling that Algeria and Iran have "long-standing relations based on sincere ties and close cooperation," Tebboune said that the leaders of the two countries are "making continuous efforts to boost the fraternal relations."[10]

On that occasion, commenting on Algeria-Iran political relations, Raisi described them as "very strong." He then added: "Algeria and Iran have very strong political relations, and the Iranian people have a special appreciation for the resistant Algerian people, who have a long history of fighting colonialism and sacrificed a large number of martyrs in order to achieve their freedom."[11]

Tebboune also met with Raisi in September 2023 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. On that occasion, Tebboune called "for the necessity of confronting the influence and interference of Western countries."[12]

After the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on May 19, 2024, Tebboune extended his condolences to the Iranian regime, stating: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathy and our fraternal support to the political leaders, the government and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a sister country... I have personally lost, in the leader Ebrahim Raisi, a brother and a partner with whom I had been working for the strengthening of fraternity, cooperation and solidarity between our two sister countries and two brother peoples, in favor of the just causes of our Islamic Nation..."[13]

In July 2024, after his Iranian election win, Tebboune sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. As reported by Iranian media agencies, in his message, Tebboune stressed that Algeria "is determined to develop ties with Iran based on the interests of the two brotherly peoples," and expressed his satisfaction with "the level of brotherhood and cooperation that has been reached."[14]

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune with former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Algiers. (Source: Dzair-tube.dz)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune with former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, September 2023. (Source: facebook.com/AlgerianPresidency)

Algerian Media Outlet: Algeria Holds Positions Similar To Iran's On Many Global Matters

Praising Algeria-Iran relations, the pro-regime Algerian media outlet Dzair-tube.dz recently wrote: "Algeria, known for its independent and aligned political stance, holds positions similar to Iran's on many global matters... Algeria's consistent support for Iran's rights in international forums, even during the nuclear talks, showcases their unwavering solidarity. This commitment was further exemplified by the formation of the Algeria-Iran parliamentary friendship group in Algiers."[15] It is also worth noting that, in January 2024, Iran's then Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian hosted Moussa Kharfi, the deputy speaker of the Algerian Parliament and the head of the Algeria-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group, which was launched under the presidency of Tebboune in February 2022.[16] The two reportedly exchanged views on bilateral and international issues.[17]

Iranian and Algerian media noted that relations between Algeria and Iran have been given a boost amid the war in Gaza. During a phone call in August 2024, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf even exchanged views regarding retaliatory measures against Israel after the killing of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.[18]

Concerning Algeria's support to Iran's policies against Israel, the Iranian media outlet Mehr further stressed: "Iran's caretaker foreign minister hailed Algeria's support for Iran's initiative in holding an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to investigate into the criminal act committed by the Zionist regime in assassinating Hamas chief. Algerian foreign minister, for his part, backed Iran's initiative for holding an emergency meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to counter the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime. He also emphasized the position of the government and people of Algeria in decisive condemnation of the heinous crimes of the Zionist regime in assassinating Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran and violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country."[19]

The Iranian media has also praised Tabboune' recent remarks,[20] vowing to send the Algerian army to build hospitals in Gaza if Egypt opens its border with the Gaza Strip.[21]

*Anna Mahjar-Barducci is a MEMRI Senior Research Fellow.