Will Algeria’s election make a difference?
The government in Algiers says Saturday’s vote will build a ‘new Algeria’.
Algeria has held its first parliamentary election since mass protests forced President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down two years ago.
The vote was initially scheduled to take place next year, but it was moved up in response to recent demonstrations.
The protest movement has urged its supporters to boycott the vote.
It wants an overhaul of the political system and an end to the military’s influence in politics.
The protest movement’s leaders say until that happens, elections will not change much.
In a country where the army has substantial influence, will these elections lead to real change?
Presenter: Peter Dobbie
Guests:
Noufal Abboud – Director of The Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation
Tin Hinane El Kadi – Associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House
Rochdi Alloui – Independent Middle East and Algeria analyst