ALGIERS, May 5 (Reuters) - Algeria's ruling National Liberation Front party and its main allies won a majority in a parliamentary election overshadowed by the financial crunch from lower oil prices and questions over President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's health. The FLN, which has dominated the North African nation's politics since its 1962 independence from France, lost a quarter of the seats it won in 2012 polls, according to preliminary results from Thursday's vote announced by Interior Minister Nourredine Bedoui on Friday. But the FLN preserved its majority thanks to its ally, the Rally for National Democracy (RND), which won 97 seats, up from 68 in the last election. Turnout was only 38.25 percent, lower than 43 percent in the last election in 2012, reflecting general distrust among Algerians that a weak parliament can bring any change in a system dominated since 1962 independence by the FLN.
Results from yesterday's election give a reduced majority of seats to Abdelaziz Bouteflika's incumbent coalition.