Political parties across Algeria are racing to finalise their candidate lists ahead of the October 28 deadline for replacing candidates whose applications were rejected for the country’s upcoming local elections.

The elections for Communal People’s Assemblies (APC) and Wilaya People’s Assemblies (APW) are scheduled for November 28, 2026. The final days of the replacement process have placed pressure on party officials as they work to maintain representation across municipalities and provinces.

The National Independent Electoral Authority (ANIE) has cited several reasons for rejecting applications, including incomplete documentation, eligibility requirements, tax-status issues and provisions concerning alleged links to suspicious business interests or conduct considered inconsistent with political ethics.

According to the authority’s provisional figures, nine complete electoral lists were rejected out of 6,065 submitted: three communal lists and six wilaya lists. These figures refer to entire lists, not the total number of individual candidates whose applications were rejected.

The decisions have triggered criticism from opposition parties, including the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) and the Workers’ Party (PT), which have questioned the fairness and interpretation of some eligibility rules. The ANIE maintains that its decisions are based on legal requirements, while affected candidates retain the right to challenge rejections through administrative courts.

The approaching deadline could influence the final composition of candidate lists and determine which political figures appear on the ballot. The local elections are an important test for parties seeking representation in Algeria’s municipal and provincial institutions.

With the replacement window closing on October 28, attention is now focused on final candidate lists, ongoing appeals and preparations for the November vote.