Algeria heads to the polls on July 2 for parliamentary elections, marking a key moment seven years after the Hirak pro-democracy movement. This year, no formal boycott has been declared by opposition parties, yet analysts still foresee weak participation. Past electoral cycles have shown a pattern of disengagement, with turnout previously falling to just 23 percent of registered voters.
Many citizens remain deeply unhappy with the political options presented, viewing them as inadequate. For a significant number, staying away from the ballot box serves as a deliberate form of protest against the existing system. FRANCE 24 correspondent Claire Paccalin reports from Algiers on the mood around the vote and what it signals for the nation’s democratic path.