DZWatch Exclusive: Three decades ago, President Liamine Zeroual embarked on a perilous endeavor that significantly altered the course of Algeria’s tumultuous period. The nation was deeply entrenched in conflict, with armed groups posing a severe threat to anyone daring to participate in the electoral process. Major opposition parties had called for a boycott, further complicating the situation. However, the events of November 16, 1995, took many by surprise. Newly declassified documents shed light on the pivotal day and the strategy behind it.
Zeroual’s decisive victory broke the barrier of fear. A document dated November 17, 1995, details Zeroual’s overwhelming first-round win, securing 61.34% of the vote. However, the real revelation wasn’t the victory itself, but the remarkable 75% voter turnout out of sixteen million registered voters. This surpassed even the most optimistic projections of the government, which had hoped for a 60% participation rate.
The documents indicate that ‘the elections defied previous threats of disruption by the banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) and armed Islamic groups.’ Furthermore, ‘the remarkably high participation, especially from women and young people, sent a clear message that the vast silent majority desires to live in peace.’
The moderate Islamist candidate, Mahfoud Nahnah, only secured 25.38% of the vote, representing less than 20% of the total electorate. The document asserts that this result signifies ‘a firm rejection of Islamic rule by the majority of voters’ and that the outcome represents ‘a strong mandate against violence rather than an endorsement of a particular candidate.’
Major opposition parties that called for a boycott, including the FLN, FFS, and the banned FIS, ‘misjudged the mood of the electorate,’ according to the analysis within the document. It further suggests that ‘their disruptive tactics may have inadvertently served the interests of the government.’
The election was conducted fairly under tight security.
