President Tebboune Details Vatican Visit, Tightens Electoral Safeguards and Sets Firm Lines on Freedoms and National Unity

By Dr. Hana Saada

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said the Vatican visit to Algeria helped project an “authentic and real” image of the country internationally, underscoring its role as a space for dialogue, coexistence and mediation.

In a periodic interview with national media, Tebboune said the Pope required no private briefings, citing prior knowledge of Algeria and its historical depth. He described the visit as a success marked by direct public engagement, including moments where the pontiff moved among crowds, and by symbolic scenes such as the visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers, which he said reflected a high expression of interfaith coexistence.

The President added that the visit reinforced Algeria’s standing as a state committed to humanitarian values and credible international engagement. He also thanked the Pope for remarks affirming Algeria’s deep historical roots beyond the colonial period, extending to earlier civilisational foundations, including Saint Augustine. Tebboune said he had proposed opening a Vatican embassy in Algiers, adding that the idea had received approval.

On domestic governance, the President said the term “election fraud” had disappeared from Algeria’s political vocabulary since 2019, while acknowledging that operational gaps in the election authority had been addressed. He reiterated that the independent election authority remains solely responsible for safeguarding the vote, stressing that no institution is permitted to interfere in its mandate.

He added that the law penalises any attempt to influence elections through money, warning that those involved would face prosecution, dismissal from elected office and the lifting of immunity where applicable, noting that such measures had already been enforced in previous elections.

President Tebboune said political parties are judged by their electoral performance, arguing that some formations lacking grassroots support opt to boycott elections to avoid exposing their limited weight. He also defended the ban on political nomadism as a safeguard for party integrity and voters’ mandates.

On governance and public freedoms, the President said states that claim to champion democracy are often the first to violate freedoms, criticising accusations from “across the seas” alleging restrictions in Algeria. He affirmed that freedom of expression is guaranteed, provided it is not driven by imported ideas, and stressed that he stands as an adversary to any actor undermining national unity. He added that public responsibility remains essential, noting that individuals—particularly those in positions of influence—are expected to act with reason and restraint.

Addressing political participation, he called for moving beyond regressive perceptions of women’s role in public life, affirming that Algerian women are entitled to full participation and should assert their place through competence. He added that he sees no obstacle to appointing a woman as prime minister if qualified.

He went on by reaffirming Algeria’s trajectory toward stability in a complex global environment, describing the country as open to cultural and religious diversity, grounded in mutual respect and dialogue.