Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announces bid for second term

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has officially announced his intention to run for a second term in office, ending months of speculation ahead of the presidential election scheduled for September 7. 

The 78-year-old leader, who has been in power since 2019, made the announcement during a press interview, excerpts of which were published on the official presidential website.

"In response to the wishes of many political and non-political parties, organizations, and young people, I announce my intention to run for a second term, as permitted by the Constitution. The Algerian people will have the final say on this matter," President Tebboune stated. Emphasizing the collective nature of his administration's achievements, he added, "All the victories obtained are the victories of the Algerian people, not mine."

Both official and private media outlets, along with Tebboune’s political allies, have rallied to highlight the "achievements" of the "New Algeria" under his leadership. 

President Tebboune won the previous election with 58% of the vote, although it was marked by a high abstention rate. He succeeded Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in 2019 under pressure from the military and the Hirak, a popular protest movement.

The decision to hold the election in September, announced earlier in March, caught observers off guard, particularly as it is the first time in Algeria’s history that a campaign will take place during the summer months. The intense heat, with temperatures often reaching 50 degrees Celsius in many cities, adds an unusual challenge to the electoral process.

The list of approved candidates will be announced on July 27, with the Constitutional Council addressing any appeals by August 3. Notable candidates include Youcef Aouchiche, the first secretary of the Front of Socialist Forces (FFS), and Abdelaali Hassani, leader of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), Algeria's main Islamist party.

Three women have also declared their candidacies: Louisa Hanoune, leader of the Workers' Party (PT, Trotskyist), businesswoman Saida Neghza, head of one of the largest employers' organizations, and lawyer Zoubida Assoul, a prominent advocate for civil liberties.

Amnesty International, in a report published in February, accused the Algerian authorities of continuing to "suppress the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," targeting critical voices five years after the pro-democracy Hirak protests began.

Before his presidency, Tebboune had a long career within the state apparatus. He started in the prefectural administration, rising to the position of wali (prefect) in the 1980s during the single-party era. In 1991, he briefly served as Minister Delegate for Local Authorities under President Chadli Bendjedid, before disappearing from the political scene until Bouteflika's presidency in 1999. 

Bouteflika appointed him Minister of Communication and later to other ministerial roles until 2002. After a decade out of government, Tebboune returned in 2012 and became Prime Minister in 2017, though his term lasted less than three months.

Tebboune used his dismissal to distance himself from his time under Bouteflika. Married with four children, the president now seeks to continue his leadership with a focus on building on the successes of his first term.