The result was a victory for incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was re-elected with 90% of the vote.

The Council of Ministers announced on 3 November 2008 that a planned constitutional revision would remove the two-term limit on the presidency that was previously included in Article 74, thereby enabling Bouteflika to run for a third term.

[5] RCD President Saïd Sadi announced on 15 January 2009 that the RCD would not participate in the elections, which he described as a "pathetic and dangerous circus", saying that to participate "would be tantamount to complicity in an operation of national humiliation".

[2] Bouteflika announced his independent candidacy for a third term at a rally in Algiers on 12 February,[6] and officially submitted his candidacy on 23 February, shortly before the deadline.

[7] The official turnout of 75% was disputed by the opposition, with some claiming it was as low as 16%.