Political parties and independent lists in eastern Algeria are in a race against time as the October 8th deadline for submitting candidacy files for the November 28th local elections approaches. Recruiters are facing significant hurdles, primarily a lack of interest from youth and university graduates, coupled with widespread fear of candidate disqualification under Article 184 of the electoral law. In provinces such as Constantine, Sétif, Jijel, and Biskra, parties are struggling to fill their ranks, often reverting to veteran politicians to complete their lists. While Tebessa shows a slightly more balanced representation of younger candidates, the prevailing trend across the region remains a reluctance of qualified professionals to participate, fearing the scrutiny process that previously led to exclusions.