The election comes as the North African country grapples with a deep financial crisis because of a drop in oil revenues and amid criticism from people who say the government has failed to keep its promises. A total of 12,000 candidates are standing for 462 seats in the People's National Assembly, with a registered electorate of 23 million. Throughout the election campaign officials urged people to vote "massively", saying Algeria's "stability" was at stake, and urged mosque prayer leaders to relay this message to worshippers. Despite brisk lobbying by Bouteflika's National Liberation Front (FLN) party and its coalition ally, the Rally for National Democracy (RND), the campaign failed to fascinate. In the 2012 election, the FLN won 221 seats and the RND 70 in the 462-seat national assembly.

Source: Daily Nation May 02, 2017 09:29 UTC