Algerian presidential election, 1999
Encyclopedia
The 1999 Algerian presidential election took place on 15 April 1999 to elect the President
of Algeria
. Abdelaziz Bouteflika
was elected with 73.8% of the vote after the other six candidates withdrew on the eve of the election.
president Liamine Zeroual
announced in September 1998 that early presidential elections would be held in February 1999. He also said that he would not be a candidate in the election, in a move which was reported as being due to infighting within the Algerian army
. The election was later set for the 15 April and the official campaign began on the 25 March. The government set up a panel to oversee the election, the Independent National Commission for Monitoring the Presidential Election (CNISEP) and President Zeroual called upon all government officials to stay neutral.
The election took place to the backdrop of continuing conflict in the Algerian Civil War
. Restoring peace to the country was the major issue for the election.
, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was supported by much of the military and establishment. Bouteflika had the backing of the two main parties in the governing coalition and said that he would work to increase trust in the government and would not rule out talking to anyone. Pro-government newspapers described Bouteflika as the "national consensus candidate".
The other candidates included Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi
, a former education and foreign minister, who received backing from the outlawed Islamic Salvation Front
(FIS). He supported talking with the FIS and for the military to withdraw from politics. Another candidate Abdallah Djaballah
, the founder of the Movement for National Reform
, called for a government of national unity to be formed.
Two former prime ministers
were candidates. Mouloud Hamrouche
, prime minister from 1989 to 1991 was a former member of the governing National Liberation Front
(FLN) who had fallen out with the leaders of the party. Mokdad Sifi
was prime minister from 1993 to 1995 and was backed by part of the National Rally for Democracy
(RND) which did not support Bouteflika. He opposed an amnesty or negotiations with murderers of women and children.
Youcef Khatib was an independent candidate and former advisor to President Zeroual's 1995 election campaign. Lastly Hocine Aït Ahmed
, the founder of the Socialist Forces Front
, campaigned by calling for Algeria to be neither a military dictatorship or Islamic fundamentalist
state. Near the end of the campaign Ahmed had a heart attack and had to go to Switzerland
for treatment.
by the army ensured that Bouteflika would win the election. Among other things they said that voter lists were being padded and extra ballot papers being printed to support Bouteflika.
Outgoing President Zeroual refused to meet the candidates to discuss their grievances and criticised the candidates for withdrawing, describing the move as illegal.
to be just over 60% with Bouteflika winning easily. However other candidates said that the turnout was very low, with Ibrahimi saying it had really only been about 25%.
President of Algeria
The President of Algeria is the head of state and chief executive of Algeria, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Algerian armed forces.-History of the office:...
of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is the ninth President of Algeria. He has been in office since 1999. He continued emergency rule until 24 February 2011, and presided over the end of the bloody Algerian Civil War in 2002...
was elected with 73.8% of the vote after the other six candidates withdrew on the eve of the election.
Background
IncumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
president Liamine Zeroual
Liamine Zéroual
Liamine Zéroual was the ninth President of Algeria from 31 January 1994 to 27 April 1999.He was born in Batna and joined the National Liberation Army in 1957, at the age of 16, to fight French rule of Algeria. After independence, he received training in Cairo, Moscow, and Paris...
announced in September 1998 that early presidential elections would be held in February 1999. He also said that he would not be a candidate in the election, in a move which was reported as being due to infighting within the Algerian army
Military of Algeria
The People’s National Army is the armed forces of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. Algeria has a large and reasonably well-equipped military to counter foreign and domestic threats...
. The election was later set for the 15 April and the official campaign began on the 25 March. The government set up a panel to oversee the election, the Independent National Commission for Monitoring the Presidential Election (CNISEP) and President Zeroual called upon all government officials to stay neutral.
The election took place to the backdrop of continuing conflict in the Algerian Civil War
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
. Restoring peace to the country was the major issue for the election.
Candidates
The frontrunner was a former foreign ministerForeign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was supported by much of the military and establishment. Bouteflika had the backing of the two main parties in the governing coalition and said that he would work to increase trust in the government and would not rule out talking to anyone. Pro-government newspapers described Bouteflika as the "national consensus candidate".
The other candidates included Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi
Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi
Dr. Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi is an Algerian politician, visionary and intellectual.He is the son of Islamic theologian and renowned scholar Bashir Ibrahimi, and served in multiple ministerial roles in Algeria from the 1960s until the late 1980s...
, a former education and foreign minister, who received backing from the outlawed Islamic Salvation Front
Islamic Salvation Front
The Islamic Salvation Front is an outlawed Islamist political party in Algeria.-Goals:...
(FIS). He supported talking with the FIS and for the military to withdraw from politics. Another candidate Abdallah Djaballah
Abdallah Djaballah
Saad Abdallah Djaballah is an Algerian politician and leader of the Movement for National Reform , an Islamist political party that he led in a breakout from the Islamic Renaissance Party , which he had created but lost control over. Djaballah stood for the presidency twice, in 1999 and 2004...
, the founder of the Movement for National Reform
Movement for National Reform
The Movement for National Reform is a moderate Islamist political party in Algeria. It received 9.5% of the vote in the 2002 elections and received 43 members of parliament....
, called for a government of national unity to be formed.
Two former prime ministers
Prime Minister of Algeria
The Prime Minister is the head of government of Algeria.The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Algeria, along with other ministers and members of the government that the new Prime Minister recommends. The People's National Assembly must approve the legislative program of the new...
were candidates. Mouloud Hamrouche
Mouloud Hamrouche
Mouloud Hamrouche was the Prime Minister of Algeria from September 5, 1989 to June 5, 1991. He was born in Constantine, Algeria. He was a leading member of the FLN. However, after serving as prime minister of Algeria he became involved in serious disputes with other party leaders who he said were...
, prime minister from 1989 to 1991 was a former member of the governing National Liberation Front
National Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
(FLN) who had fallen out with the leaders of the party. Mokdad Sifi
Mokdad Sifi
Mokdad Sifi is an Algerian politician. Sifi was Prime Minister from 11 April 1994 to 31 December 1995. He was a Member of Parliament and once considered running for the Presidency. However, Sifi withdrew in April 1999 along with six of the seven other candidates, allowing the only remaining...
was prime minister from 1993 to 1995 and was backed by part of the National Rally for Democracy
National Rally for Democracy
The National Rally for Democracy is a political party in Algeria. It is led by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia.The RND was founded on February 21, 1997. The party held its Second Congress on May 15–17, 2003....
(RND) which did not support Bouteflika. He opposed an amnesty or negotiations with murderers of women and children.
Youcef Khatib was an independent candidate and former advisor to President Zeroual's 1995 election campaign. Lastly Hocine Aït Ahmed
Hocine Aït Ahmed
Hocine Aït Ahmed is an Algerian politician....
, the founder of the Socialist Forces Front
Socialist Forces Front
The Socialist Forces Front , , is a social democratic and secularist, political party in Algeria. It was formed in 1963 by Hocine Ait Ahmed...
, campaigned by calling for Algeria to be neither a military dictatorship or Islamic fundamentalist
Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic fundamentalism is a term used to describe religious ideologies seen as advocating a return to the "fundamentals" of Islam: the Quran and the Sunnah. Definitions of the term vary. According to Christine L...
state. Near the end of the campaign Ahmed had a heart attack and had to go to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for treatment.
Withdrawal
Less than 24 hours before the election six of the seven presidential candidates withdrew claiming the election would not be fair. The candidates claimed that electoral fraudElectoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
by the army ensured that Bouteflika would win the election. Among other things they said that voter lists were being padded and extra ballot papers being printed to support Bouteflika.
Outgoing President Zeroual refused to meet the candidates to discuss their grievances and criticised the candidates for withdrawing, describing the move as illegal.
Election results
Official figures showed turnoutVoter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
to be just over 60% with Bouteflika winning easily. However other candidates said that the turnout was very low, with Ibrahimi saying it had really only been about 25%.