A total of 69 people have been prosecuted in Algerian courts, either in immediate appearance or after an investigation, for violations of the electoral law during the early legislative elections of June 12, the justice ministry announced on Monday.
Among them, 35 were imprisoned and 10 others placed under judicial supervision, the ministry said in a statement.
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Some people, the number of which was not specified, were sentenced to terms of 6 to 18 months in prison, accompanied by fines. "
As part of the efforts to ensure the regularity of legislative elections (...), judicial measures have been taken against violators of the provisions of the (electoral) law, giving rise to the placement of 35 people under warrant. filing and 10 others under judicial supervision,
”the ministry said. They are accused in particular of having distributed on polling day "
documents related to the electoral campaign
", of having disrupted "
the functioning of a polling station
" and of having offered "
cash donations to voters. to influence their vote
".
The press release also reports theft of ballot papers.
Violations are severely punished by the new electoral law promulgated in March, which provides for penalties of up to 20 years in prison, in particular for acts of destruction or removal of ballot boxes.
The text also provides for penal sanctions against any attempt to influence the vote "
by donations or pledges of donations in money or in kind, by promises of public or private jobs or other particular advantages
".
Anyone who tries to influence a voter by threat is also punished by a sentence of three months to one year.
The judicial police are continuing their investigations throughout the country, added the ministry.
The vote of June 12 in Algeria was marked by a historic abstention (77%). In Kabylia (northeast), a traditionally rebellious Berber-speaking region, the participation rate did not reach 1%. Most of the polling stations were closed in Béjaïa and Tizi Ouzou, the most populous towns in Kabylia. And clashes broke out in several Kabyle municipalities, with looting of the ballot boxes. The police have carried out dozens of arrests, according to human rights associations. The legislative elections were won by the National Liberation Front (FLN), the leading political force in the outgoing Parliament.
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