The National Independent Authority for Elections has begun reviewing candidacy applications for the municipal and provincial assembly elections scheduled for November 28, 2026. Political parties and independent lists are bracing for potential rejections, fearing a repeat of the previous legislative elections where numerous files were disqualified over alleged links to illicit funding or ethical concerns. The current election cycle is marked by an unprecedented lack of interest in running for office, particularly among youth, women, and university graduates, making it difficult to fill candidate lists across 1541 municipalities and 69 provinces. Representatives from the FFS and the Workers' Party highlighted the struggles of gathering the required signatures and recruiting candidates, while the FLN stated it had prepared lists across all provinces. Parties remain particularly concerned about their inability to replace candidates if their files are rejected by the electoral authority.