Africa

Ruling coalition wins Algerian parliamentary election

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika casts his ballot in Algiers, Thursday, May 4, 2017. Algerians vote Thursday in parliamentary elections the government hopes will give it a mandate as it struggles with low oil prices, dismal job prospects and Islamic extremism. (AP Photo/Sidali Djarboub) (The Associated Press)

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika looks on after voting in Algiers, Thursday, May 4, 2017. Algerians vote Thursday in parliamentary elections the government hopes will give it a mandate as it struggles with low oil prices, dismal job prospects and Islamic extremism. (AP Photo/Sidali Djarboub) (The Associated Press)

The Algerian government says the ruling National Liberation Front (FNL) and its coalition ally won a majority of seats in parliamentary elections marked by a low turnout.

The interior Ministry says about 38 percent of 20 million eligible to vote actually cast ballots.

Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui told a press conference that FLN, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's party, won 164 of the 462 seats in the lower house of parliament.

Former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia's Rassemblement National Democratique — FLN's coalition ally — finished second with 97 seats.

The Islamist party, Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP), joined forces with the Front for Change, securing 33 seats.