On Thursday 4 May, Algerians will be voting for the renewal of their parliament (ANP, the National People's Assembly), and the EU has sent an "expert mission" to assess the preparations and results, and to evaluate the fairness of the process.
The mission's objective is "to study the electoral framework" (and not to carry out an election observation), "both on the legal and administrative level", and to study "the operation of the new 'Independent High Authority on Election Monitoring' and its relationship with the Ministry of the Interior", an authorised European source told EUROPE. This mission began on 4 April and will also enable media activity to be assessed in the electoral context, like that of civil society, and the role given to women in the process.
The experts will produce "internal, not public, reports" for Brussels, "in the form of an update on the recommendations made by the EU election observation mission" for the previous parliamentary elections in 2012. The reference is not insignificant and illustrates the extent of caution the EU is obliged to have in its political relations with an Algeria that is very sensitive to criticism on its domestic politics.
In reality, the distinction between an "expert mission" and "an election observation mission" can be explained by the late receipt of the official Algerian invitation. "At least four months are needed to organise such a mission" involving the European Parliament, as was the case in 2012, when it leader, José Salafranca MEP (EPP, Spain) was found at the centre of a controversy and was not able to conduct his mission properly. Thus, in April 2014 (see EUROPE 11031), the EU's position was of not being involved in an exercise where there were "only punches to be taken". And it is for the same reasons, mentioned again this year, that it is not now present other than in the form of a simple technical mission.
The team of four experts has met the head of the Constitutional Council and the media, as well as some political parties. Other parties, by contrast, have refused any meeting. The Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) – a Berber political party considered as one of the most significant on the Algerian scene – has, for example, said that the reason for its refusal is due to the limits of this observation mission which will, the RCD says in a press release, only "bring the EU's caution" to the elections, the most expected outcome of which is abstention. And this does not include the sensitivity of the context linked to the political transition on hold: the succession to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The RCD states that is has had contact with the EU for observation of the political process, aiming to prevent possible fraud, but this common work has not been followed up, according to the RCD. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)