Local elections are scheduled for November 28, 2026. This upcoming electoral event has prompted several political parties to finalize their candidate lists, according to sources familiar with the preparations. The process of compiling and endorsing these lists is underway across various political entities as the election date approaches. The deadline for submitting these lists to the National Independent Elections Authority is October 8.
FLN Ahead of Schedule
The Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) has completed preparing its candidate lists in all wilayas, positioning the party ahead of the October 8 deadline for submissions to the National Independent Elections Authority. This early completion is a significant step for the party. The FLN has begun the process of reviewing files at the local level. This early completion facilitates a thorough assessment of candidates, ensuring that all submissions meet the party's criteria. The party will commence reviewing submitted files from Thursday, according to sources within the organization. Due to its past legislative election results, the FLN will not be required to collect signatures for its candidate lists, a procedure mandated for other political entities. This exemption streamlines the process for the FLN, allowing it to focus on internal reviews.
Hamas Navigates Candidacy Challenges
Hamas (Mouvement de la Société pour la Paix) continues to receive candidacy files at the wilaya level for the upcoming local elections. The party established October 2 as the deadline for prospective candidates to submit their files, allowing a brief window for internal processing before the national submission deadline. Hamas has authorized its local branches to make decisions regarding these candidacy files, empowering regional committees to manage the selection process.
The party has also prepared an additional list of candidates, anticipating that some names may be dropped from the main list during the review process. This strategic measure addresses concerns among many potential candidates who are hesitant to run. Their reluctance stems from past legislative election experiences, where they feared disqualification or the rejection of their candidate lists. The preparation of a supplementary list provides a contingency plan to ensure full representation.
Broader Election Concerns
Other political parties are reportedly encountering difficulties in finalizing their candidate lists ahead of the November 28, 2026, local elections. These parties are facing challenges securing a sufficient number of candidates and completing the signature collection process, according to reports. Concerns persist among these entities about a potential recurrence of issues observed during previous legislative elections. Many potential candidates are hesitant to run due to past legislative election experiences, fearing disqualification or the rejection of their candidate lists. This reluctance contributes significantly to the difficulties faced by parties in compiling complete lists.
Many parties are still actively accepting candidacy files as they work to overcome these hurdles. They attribute these ongoing difficulties to challenges in attracting suitable candidates to stand for election. The shortage of candidates is a primary concern, as is the often arduous process of gathering the required number of signatures for each list. To address the shortages and meet signature requirements, some parties are expanding their search for candidates to include individuals from outside their traditional membership. This strategy aims to ensure complete candidate lists can be submitted to the National Independent Elections Authority by the October 8 deadline. These parties hope that by broadening their candidate pool, they can overcome the current obstacles and present viable options to voters.