Algeria's Independent National Electoral Authority (ANIE) has made a key ruling on how individual signatures must be collected by political parties seeking to run in coalition lists in the upcoming local elections. In an official letter dated September 20, 2026, the ANIE stated that signatures must be collected directly in the name of the coalition and cannot be transferred from forms previously signed in support of individual parties. This decision was made in response to a request from five political parties.
The five parties, including the Algerian Renewal, New Algeria Front, and National Struggle Front, had sought permission to file their joint candidacy declarations under the name of the alliance, using individual signature forms collected earlier by individual parties. However, the ANIE referred to Article 178, paragraph 1, of Ordinance No. 21-01 of March 10, 2021, which allows two or more parties to form an alliance to endorse an electoral list. The authority emphasized that this provision does not permit parties to pool signatures collected for individual parties.
The ANIE's ruling means that individual signature forms must be collected specifically in support of the coalition itself, with the political entity endorsing the electoral list identified from the outset. This clarification comes as Algerian political parties prepare for the local elections scheduled for November 28, 2026. The elections will determine the composition of Algeria's municipal and provincial elected councils, and the parties are finalizing their electoral lists and deciding whether to contest the vote independently or through alliances.
The five parties had argued that allowing coalition lists to file their candidacy under the alliance's name while using previously collected signatures would remove procedural obstacles and encourage more candidates to enter the race. They also believed it would lend greater credibility to the electoral process and contribute to higher turnout in the November local elections. However, the ANIE maintains a clear procedural link between the entity collecting signatures and the entity ultimately endorsing the electoral list.
The ANIE's decision effectively means that the formation of an electoral alliance does not retroactively alter the legal basis on which signatures were collected. Political parties intending to submit a joint list must ensure that the coalition itself is identified as the endorsing entity when signatures are gathered. This ruling provides a definitive procedural answer to the five parties' request and draws a clear distinction between the right of parties to form electoral alliances and the formal requirements governing signature collection.
The clarification is critical for parties preparing their lists for the November 28 election, as it makes the timing and legal designation of the endorsing entity a crucial part of the nomination process. The local elections are seen as an opportunity to mobilize citizens and rebuild public confidence in state institutions, which has been declining in recent years. The ANIE's ruling aims to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
The upcoming local elections take place in a challenging context, with concerns over declining electoral participation and external threats facing Algeria. The ANIE's decision is expected to have a significant impact on the electoral process, and parties will need to adapt to the new rules to ensure their participation in the elections. The ruling is a key development in the lead-up to the November 28 elections.
Key points
- The Algerian election authority has ruled that coalition signatures must be collected directly in the name of the coalition.
- The ruling aims to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
- The decision is critical for parties preparing their lists for the November 28 election.
