World Bulletin/News Desk

Prof. Abdulali Rezaki from University of Algeria said that the rate of participation in elections in 2002 had been 46 percent, adding that the rate dropped to 35 percent in 2007.      

I think 85 percent of voters will boycott today's elections. Because parliament has become a place which people hate. It has become an institution working under the rule of administration instead of carrying out its legislative and supervision missions, said Rezaki.      

This is the election of people who struggle to rule, not the ordinary public, he said.      

Algeria will elect its new lawmakers today.     

Forty-two political parties will compete in the elections to elect the 462 new members of the People's National Assembly.       The main competition is expected to take place between two parties, in connection with the government, and the alliance set up by Movement of Society for Peace, Ennahda and Al Islah parties.      

Socialists, who have not joined the elections since 1997, will also join this parliamentary elections.      

Moreover, the Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and European Union will send observers to Algerian elections.      

Ahead of the elections, Algeria's Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia criticized Abbas Madani, the leader of the Islamic Salvation Front (FFS) which was banned by the army in 1992, of calling on Algerian people to boycott the elections.      

Ouyahia said boycotting the elections would strengthen the hands of foreign countries to intervene in Algeria's internal affairs.