The head of the National Independent Authority for Elections, Saïd Berous, has rejected claims regarding a lack of interest in the local elections scheduled for November 28, 2026. In a video statement, he presented figures showing a notable increase in candidates compared to 2021, with 141,388 candidates for municipal councils (+22.7%) and 21,476 for provincial councils (+13.56%). Berous noted that 48.48% of applicants hold university degrees, and 54.02% are aged 40 or under. Addressing criticisms regarding the filing process, he reaffirmed the authority's commitment to neutrality and legal compliance, explaining that the rejection of a very small number of lists (3 municipal and 6 provincial) was based on incomplete documentation. He emphasized the right to legal appeal and urged citizens to participate actively in the upcoming vote.