Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sparked widespread ridicule on social media platforms after asserting that Algeria has the world’s third-largest economy.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Oran on Sunday, Tebboune declared: “Today, the Algerian economy is becoming the third biggest economy in the world.” His statement was met with cheers from supporters present at the rally.
However, the claim is factually incorrect. As of 2024, Germany holds the position of the world’s third-largest economy.
While Algerian media corrected the President’s error, noting that Algeria is Africa’s third-largest economy, video clips of Tebboune’s statement are going viral online, attracting significant mockery and criticism.
On social media platform X, one user commented, “Scandalous! Algerian President Tebboune claims in a ridiculous manner that Algeria’s economy is the third largest in the world! And that the entire world envies Algeria!”
فضيحة الرئيس الجزائري 🇩🇿 تبون يدعي بشكل مضحك و غبي بأن الاقتصاد الجزائري هو ثالث أكبر اقتصاد في العالم !!!!! و بأن العالم بأسره يحسد الجزائر !!!!!!!
من أي مستشفى مجانين هرب هذا المخلوق ؟ pic.twitter.com/BTJbk6MhrU— Anas Sh (@anass004e) August 26, 2024
Hashtags related to the incident gained traction, with some users questioning the President’s mental competence. “The continued presence of this man, whose mental health seems questionable, at the head of the Algerian state is a major disaster!” another user wrote.
تبون:
"اليوم اصبح اقتصاد الجزائر هو ثالث اقتصاد العالم"
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣يعني حجم اقتصاد الجزائر اكبر من اقتصاد المانيا الهند اليابان البرازيل بريطانيا روسيا تركيا السعودية ووووووووووو!!
بقاء هذا الرجل المشكوك في سلامته العقلية على… pic.twitter.com/m0pX7GYO0o
— وليد كبير Oualid KEBIR 🇩🇿 (@oualido) August 26, 2024
Another user expressed his confusion at the statement: “When Tebboune claimed that Algeria’s economy is the third largest in the world, analysts and economists wondered about the two countries ranked above Algeria. Are the U.S. and China the only superpowers, while Britain, France, Germany, Russia, India, Japan, and Italy are considered part of the ‘third world’?”
لما صرح طبون بأن الاقتصاد الجزائر هو ثالث اقتصاد في العالم، تساءل المحللون وعلماء الاقتصاد عن الدولتين المرتبتين قبل الجزائر هل أمريكا والصين …وهل بريطانيا وفرنسا وألمانيا وروسيا والهند واليابان وإيطاليا …مثلا مصنفين في العالم الثالث…؟؟؟
في الحقيقة عبقرية طبون خارقة ههه pic.twitter.com/kGr8ykRL5Y— أشرف التايدي (@maghribi_charif) August 27, 2024
The presidential elections will take place on September 7. Algerians will head to the ballots to choose from three candidates, including President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.