A week after the start of the election campaign for the 2026 legislative elections in Algeria , the features of the political competition have become clearer between the pro-government parties, which are raising the ceiling of their ambitions to win a majority, and the opposition parties, which continue to express their concerns about some exclusions and restrictions that accompanied the electoral process, while warning of the impact of this on popular participation and confidence in elected institutions.
While the major political formations are focused on mobilizing voters and convincing them to go to the polls, differing visions are emerging regarding the next parliament, as the pro-government parties see it as a platform to continue reforms and support state programs, while the opposition seeks to make it more representative, independent, and capable of exercising oversight and restoring citizens’ trust.
It appears that the pro-government parties, most notably the National Liberation Front, the National Democratic Rally, the Future Front, and to some extent the National Construction Movement, are entering these elections hoping to strengthen their presence within the upcoming legislative body and continue to play their role in supporting the public policies and economic and social reforms taking place in the country.
In this context, the Secretary-General of the National Liberation Front (FLN), Abdelkrim Benmbarek, affirmed during a rally in Blida province that the party will remain a presence on the political scene. He considered the calls to relegate it to a museum as reflecting illusions that history has overtaken and that the Algerian people have already decided. He emphasized that "the FLN derives its strength from the people and its historical legacy," and that the people alone have the power to determine the party's future. He asserted that all attempts to weaken or target it will fail because the party is deeply rooted in Algerian society and carries a long and rich history of struggle.
Ben Mubarak also called on the heads of political parties to refrain from hate speech and insults and to elevate the political debate to the level of exchanging ideas and visions that serve the interest of Algeria, as he put it.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the National Democratic Rally (RND), Mounir Bouden, defended his party during a public gathering in Annaba, in the east of the country, affirming that the RND would remain a political partner of the state. He responded to criticisms leveled against the party by saying that attempts to tarnish its image in the days leading up to the election had not harmed it, asserting that the Algerian people are aware and understand the true nature of what he described as campaigns targeting the party.
It appears that the pro-government parties are entering these elections betting on strengthening their presence within the upcoming legislative body.
Bouden recalled the circumstances that accompanied the establishment of the RND during the 1990s, noting that it was established to contribute to the protection of the state and to confront terrorism. He also acknowledged that mistakes had been made by previous leaders, but stressed that the party’s militant base does not bear responsibility for those mistakes, and that the party also has many achievements that cannot be ignored.
The Future Front went even further in outlining its vision for the next parliament. At two public rallies in Annaba and Skikda, party leader Fateh Boutabik asserted that the upcoming National People's Assembly "will not be an ordinary parliament," but rather will be at the heart of the major transformations the country is undergoing.
Boutabik called on his party's activists to engage strongly in the electoral process, stressing that the current stage requires a strong and responsible parliament that keeps pace with national transformations and gives young people a greater presence in decision-making.
Despite the National Construction Movement expressing its pain over the exclusions that affected a number of its candidates, especially the dismissal of its list in the capital, its Vice President, Ahmed Al-Dan, stressed the need to activate party alliances within the next parliament to confront national and regional challenges.
In contrast, during the first week of the election campaign, criticism emerged from opposition parties regarding what they considered exclusions that affected the electoral competition, in addition to criticizing the general political situation in the country.
The Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) was the most vocal in expressing this concern after announcing the failure of its efforts to return to the electoral race in Setif, the largest of the eastern provinces, following the rejection of the appeal it had submitted regarding the disqualification of its list by the Independent National Election Authority.
The movement asserted that the notification to the list commissioner regarding the rejection of one candidate's file occurred outside the legal and regulatory deadlines, prior to the decision to disqualify the entire list. It noted that compensation applications and additional documents were submitted within the legally stipulated timeframe. The movement maintained that this raises serious issues concerning the application of legal procedures and deadlines, emphasizing that adherence to these deadlines must be maintained by all parties involved in the electoral process.
The movement described the decision to drop its list in Setif as “an injustice to its political rights” and an infringement on the legal guarantees established for competitors, considering that the issue is of particular importance given the electoral weight of the Setif province, which includes 17 parliamentary seats and is one of the movement’s most prominent electoral strongholds.
The movement's stance wasn't limited to the legal aspect alone; it extended to a political analysis of the reality of electoral participation. At a public gathering in Chlef, in the west of the country, the movement's president, Abdelali Hassani Cherif, asserted that there was a "manufactured apathy aimed at distancing citizens from the source of decision-making," calling for a broad mobilization to increase voter turnout and instill hope and confidence in young people.
Hassani Sharif said that the Movement of Society for Peace stood by the nation in all circumstances, despite the vetting of its candidates and votes over the past years, while acknowledging that the participation rate is experiencing a continuous decline for reasons he described as well-known, including despair and frustration.
He affirmed that the movement seeks to combat this phenomenon and stand with the nation, emphasizing that "there will be no surrender despite the difficult circumstances." He also called for the establishment of legitimate and representative institutions, asserting that Algeria possesses all the elements for economic development and progress, but needs credible institutions.
In his vision for the next parliament, Hassani Sharif stressed the need for a strong and representative parliament capable of monitoring the administrative authority, calling for a political government instead of an administrative one, and for consolidating partnership and political coexistence and strengthening economic, social and institutional sovereignty.
In the same vein, the First National Secretary of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Youcef Aouchiche, criticized some provisions of the electoral law, especially Article 200, which he considered contrary to the spirit of the constitution, calling for a review of the laws that he believes negatively affect public freedoms and political life.
Ouchiche stressed that his party is contesting the elections in order to restore the credibility of elected institutions, foremost among them the National People’s Assembly, calling for the building of a new political and social contract that strengthens popular participation, enshrines the rule of law and institutions, and bridges the gap between the citizen and his institutions.
Meanwhile, the National Elections Authority finalized the organizational and procedural aspects of election day, explaining in a guide for voters how to vote, the required documents, and the rules to be followed inside polling stations. It also detailed the voting mechanisms under the open list system and the errors that could lead to the invalidation of a vote, as part of ongoing preparations to ensure the smooth running of the electoral process on July 2nd.
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