As the Algerian opposition expressed concern over the 'worsening crisis of confidence' following the high voter abstention in the legislative elections held on the 2nd of this month, attention turns to the presidential palace where the formation of the new government is underway after the confirmation of election results, with the possibility of retaining the current government team led by Prime Minister Sifi Grib.

Yesterday, Saturday, the Constitutional Court confirmed the election results announced by the Independent National Election Authority, cementing the dominance of the so-called 'presidential majority' parties over the majority of seats in the National People's Assembly, namely the National Liberation Front, the National Democratic Rally, and the Future Front; while opposition parties ranked relatively far behind, particularly the Movement of Society for Peace, the Socialist Forces Front, and the Rally for Culture and Democracy, which will allow the government to pass its projects without any disruption during the 2026-2031 legislative term.

Election authority members during screening of candidacies (Election Authority)

The election saw the lowest voter turnout in the country's electoral history, not exceeding 21%, prompting three opposition parties to warn of a 'worsening crisis of confidence manifested in the widespread abstention and boycott, as well as irregularities that affected the transparency of the vote.'

A statement issued by the Rally for Culture and Democracy at the end of its leadership meeting on Sunday stated that the vast majority of Algerians 'have lost hope in the ability of the current electoral process to bring about real and tangible political change.' The party, which won three seats, said that 'continuing to organize elections in an environment that lacks guarantees of equal opportunities between competitors, and that is devoid of absolute transparency and the true foundations of democratic rotation, will make popular abstention a persistent phenomenon and a dominant choice for citizens.'

Meeting of the leadership body of the Rally for Culture and Democracy party (Party media)

The party stressed that 'no election that confiscates the people's right to freely choose their rulers can establish true legitimacy, which is the fundamental pillar for the stability of the state and the preservation of its institutions.'

In the party's assessment, the municipal elections scheduled before the end of this year represent 'a new station in this democratic path, given the importance of local communities as a vital space for grassroots work and citizen participation,' announcing the launch of its preparations for this date, and calling on its activists to 'strengthen field presence, open up to youth, women, and competencies to build strong candidate lists that reflect the reality of municipalities and provinces.'

Trust Crisis

Meanwhile, the Islamist Justice and Development Front, which won three seats, stated in a press release that the final results announced by the Constitutional Court regarding appeals related to the legislative elections 'confirm the need for deep reforms of the electoral system, ensuring the protection of the popular will, and enhancing the integrity and transparency of elections at all stages.'

Leadership of the Justice and Development Front chaired by Sheikh Abdallah Djaballah (Party media)

The party, led by Sheikh Abdallah Djaballah, indicated that the elections 'took place in a context marked by continued popular abstention from participation, recording the lowest turnout since the adoption of political pluralism in 1989, making the participation rate in our country among the weakest, which reflects a deepening crisis of confidence between the citizen and the electoral process, as well as state institutions, a matter that requires serious political and legal treatment to restore the electoral process as the natural entry point for renewing popular legitimacy.'

The Front, through the same statement, called for 'precise and transparent criteria in selecting and qualifying those who oversee the electoral process, enhancing their independence, neutrality, and competence, and establishing full transparency in announcing detailed results at all polling stations and centers, enabling parties, candidates, and public opinion to access them, thereby enhancing confidence in the results and entrenching societal oversight.'

New Generation party raised doubts about the integrity of the elections (Party media)

The New Generation party, a liberal party that won one seat, said that the legislative elections 'highlighted a crisis of confidence between citizens and institutions,' calling for a new political phase 'based on a new democratic contract, renewed governance, and deep reforms.'

Government Formation

Attention is now focused on the presidential palace, awaiting the legal and political path the executive will take following the announcement of the final results of the legislative elections. Although the constitutional document lacks any clause explicitly requiring the government to resign once the contours of the new parliamentary majority are clear under the dome of parliament, political custom has established a fixed tradition of reshuffling the government team in harmony with the new parliamentary makeup.

The constitution places all the strings of the game in the hands of the President of the Republic, who has absolute powers in shaping the government apparatus, whether by appointing a 'Prime Minister' to lead the president's program if the polls yield a loyal majority, or by appointing a 'Head of Government' emerging from a majority parliamentary opposition.

Based on these constitutional determinants, all political options remain open to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He can maintain stability by publicly renewing confidence in Prime Minister Sifi Grib to continue leading the executive, or go towards the option of fully appointing a new government face.

Prime Minister Sifi Grib is a candidate to remain in his post (Prime Ministry)

In a related context, the concern over the upcoming 'social re-entry' in September, i.e., the return of business, education, and other sectors after the holiday season, may force the option of temporarily extending the current team's tasks to ensure the continuity of public service; a scenario that does not prevent the president from making a partial government reshuffle and limiting new ministerial portfolios to sectors that the performance evaluation process has shown need a new spirit and dynamism.