Algerian elections to be held on Thursday

The electoral campaigns ended today in Algeria, waiting for the vote on Thursday to select a new president from among seven nominees.

The issue of security and national reconciliation dominated the electoral campaigns, which lasted for 19 days.

These elections come after seven years of severe violence that broke out after abolishing the parliamentary elections of January 1992, and the death of thousands of Algerian citizens.

Despite the participation of seven candidates, current President Liamine Zeroual, who is to retire 19 months before the end of his presidency, did not nominate himself for the elections. Former Algerian Foreign Minister Abd El-Aziz Bu Talfika is considered to be on top of the candidates, with the support of four major parties.

The recent days witnessed tours of six of the seven candidates, where the seventh, Hussien Ayet Ahmed, was obliged to delay his electoral campaign due to his affliction by a heart attack that required him to travel abroad for treatment.