Ex Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune Wins Algerian Presidential Election

Algeria’s former prime minister, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has won the country’s presidential election, the electoral commission announced on Friday.

The election was marred by unrest and a low turn-out of voters. Voter’s turnout was 40%. Tebboune secured 58% of the vote which was enough to prevent a second round run-off.

The five presidential candidates, approved by the state, were former prime ministers Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Ali Benflis, ex-culture minister Azzedddine Mihoubi, former tourism minister Abdelkader Bengrine, and Abdelaziz Belaid, a party leader.

The election had been opposed by a large protest movement that wanted the ballot put off until the entire ruling elite stepped down and the military quit politics.

The military saw the vote as the only way to restore order in Algeria, Africa’s largest country which is home to 40 million people.