Algeria’s contested presidential election sees historically low turn out

A record six in 10 Algerians abstained from voting in the country’s presidential election that was firmly rejected by the nine-month-old protest movement.

Just under 40 percent of registered voters cast a ballot on Thursday, said electoral authority chief Mohamed Charfi, speaking on national television.

Charfi said the turnout among Algerians living in the country was a little over 41 percent and close to nine percent among its nationals living abroad, the lowest rate for a multi-party election in the country’s history.

The unpopular vote comes after a street protest movement in April ousted president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 82, following two decades in office.

Via France 24