For the second time in less than a year, on Nov. 1 Algerians were summoned to voice their opinion about the way their country should be run. Once again, however, their views are likely to count for little. The referendum held over the weekend allowed citizens to vote on a host of constitutional amendments proposed by the government. Authorities trumpeted the vote as the solution to the demands of protestors who have been rallying against the regime since February 2019. It seems unlikely, though, that the maneuver will satisfy anyone. Only 23.7 percent of a total of more than 24 million voters participated, according to the government’s official figures, approving the changes by 66.8 percent of the vote. Whether or not you trust the government’s numbers, the lack of any real enthusiasm for making the decision will make it difficult for the regime to pass the vote off as the democratic celebration it was hoping for.
Some things have changed since the start of Algeria’s peaceful demonstrations: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the initial target of dissent, was pushed aside by the army. A presidential election, largely for show and forced through in December 2019, installed a new civilian head of state, 74-year-old Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The COVID-19 outbreak has further degraded Algeria’s economic situation and provided cover for authorities to intensify repression. But one thing remains a constant in Algeria: The country’s aged authoritarians continue to use the mimicry of democratic procedure to fake reform.
