Voters keep Algeria’s legislative leaders in power despite economy, unemployment

Algeria’s governing coalition won the majority of parliament seats in the recent election and, amid the country’s economic crisis, the Islamist Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP) earned enough seats to return to the political scene.

The ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) retained power in the oil-rich country in the May 4 legislative elections. Despite the sensitive timing of the vote, which coincided with tough economic cutbacks aimed at making up for decreasing oil prices, the FLN and its ally, the National Rally for Democracy (RND), secured 261 votes out of 462.