Algiers — The polling stations opened at 8 a.m. under a gray sky that matched the mood. Algerians are voting for a new parliament, but don't call it a celebration of democracy. After years of crackdowns and broken promises, this election feels less like a choice and more like a chore.
Hirak's shadow looms large
In 2019, the Hirak movement brought millions into the streets. They demanded the fall of the old guard, an end to corruption, and real change. The regime answered with arrests, tear gas, and eventually a pandemic that killed the protests. Now, three years later, the same faces are on the ballot — only the slogans have changed.
"They want us to believe voting changes something. But the army still calls the shots." — Former Hirak activist, Algiers
Turnout will be the real story. In 2021, barely 30% of voters showed up. This year, officials hope for a bump. But on the streets, the talk is of boycott. "Why vote when the results are already written?" asks a cafe owner in Bab El Oued. He's not wrong. The ruling FLN party and its allies face a fractured opposition — some boycotting, others running on platforms that sound identical.
Reform or reheated rhetoric?
President Tebboune promised a "new Algeria" after the Hirak. But the changes feel cosmetic. The constitution was revised, but the presidency still holds vast powers. The economy, heavily reliant on oil and gas, staggers under inflation and youth unemployment above 30%. Young Algerians — the backbone of Hirak — are the least likely to vote. "They gave us nothing," says a 24-year-old jobseeker in Oran. "No jobs, no freedom. Just more of the same."
The election comes at a tense moment. War in Ukraine has spiked energy prices, giving Algiers a revenue boost. But that money won't fix a system where oil wealth rarely reaches ordinary people. Analysts say the regime is betting on stability over reform. "The goal is a docile parliament that rubber-stamps decisions," says political scientist Dr. Amina Belkacem. "Real power remains with the military and intelligence services."
What's at stake?
For the regime, it's legitimacy. A low turnout would embarrass Tebboune and expose the hollow promise of reform. For the opposition, it's survival. Islamist parties, once a force, have been sidelined. Secular liberals are divided. The only coherent voice left is the boycott movement — but that's a refusal, not a program.
International observers are thin on the ground. The EU sent a small team, but they'll focus on process, not substance. Human rights groups note that political prisoners remain behind bars, including journalists and activists from the Hirak. "Free and fair elections don't happen when your rivals are in jail," says Amnesty International's North Africa director.
So Algerians vote. Or don't. The regime will claim a mandate. The opposition will cry foul. And the country will wake up Thursday to the same questions: Who really runs Algeria? And when will the change come?
One thing is certain — the ghosts of Hirak won't disappear. They're standing at every polling station, reminding voters what could have been.
