Voters in Algeria are casting ballots Thursday in parliamentary elections overshadowed by cost-of-living concerns and bans on candidates challenging the government.
Nearly 25 million voters across Africa’s largest country by territory are choosing among 1,235 candidates for 407 seats with five-year terms in the lower house of Parliament.
Turnout is a big concern after voters largely snubbed campaign events. The government declared Thursday a paid national holiday to encourage turnout.
Rather than electoral politics, many people seem more concerned with everyday problems such as purchasing power and the decline of public services against a backdrop of shrinking political, media and union freedoms.
Many soccer-obsessed Algerians also are focused on the World Cup, where their national team faces Switzerland in a knockout match early Friday.
The outgoing pro-government majority holds some 300 seats, while the Islamist MSP party is the second largest political force with 64 seats.
Some MSP candidates were among 269 candidates
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