/ 18 May 2007

Algeria experiences lowest-ever voter turnout

Algeria saw the lowest election turnout by far in its history as only 36,51% of the electorate turned out to vote in parliamentary elections, Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni said on Friday in Algiers.

A total of 19-million people had been eligible to vote in Thursday’s elections for 389 seats in the Algerian Parliament.

The previous record low turnout was in the last parliamentary election in 2002 when only 46,17 % of the electorate turned up to vote.

Many Algerians believe that the previous alliance of three parties led by the FLN unity party will form the new government.

The first official results are expected later Friday. — Sapa