Call me a cynic, but I am always skeptical of national elections: In which the winner emerges with 90% of the vote (and the largest opposition tally is below 5%); that are marred by violence and intimidation; in which most opposition leaders withdraw, stay away, or question the validity of the enterprise; that take place after the head of state amends the constitution to ensure the opportunity for him (so far this is a characteristic of male heads of state) to extend his leadership; and in which the overwhelming landslide is allegedly accompanied by massive voter turnout (and which is the opposition disputes).
Well, in the Algrian elections just completed, all of these conditions held. And 72-year old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika won a third term after Friday’s election. So once again: Color me skeptical.
