Politics of Algeria

السياسة الجزائرية
Polity typeUnitary semi‑presidential constitutional republic
ConstitutionConstitution of People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Legislative branch
NameParliament
TypeBicameral
Meeting placeNations Palace
Upper house
NameCouncil of the Nation
Presiding officerSalah Goudjil, President of the Council of the Nation
AppointerIndirect election
Lower house
NamePeople's National Assembly
Presiding officerIbrahim Boughali, President of the People's National Assembly
AppointerDirect popular vote (two rounds if necessary)
Executive branch
Head of State
TitlePresident
CurrentlyAbdelmadjid Tebboune
AppointerDirect popular vote (two rounds if necessary)
Head of Government
TitlePrime Minister
CurrentlyNadir Larbaoui
AppointerPresident
Cabinet
NameCouncil of Ministers of Algeria
Current cabinetLarbaoui government
LeaderPrime Minister
AppointerPresident of the Republic
HeadquartersGovernment Palace
Ministries32
Judicial branch
NameJudiciary of Algeria
Council of State
Chief judgeFarida Benyahia
Superior Committee of Justice
Chief judgePresident of the Republic
Constitutional Court
Chief judgeKamel Fenniche
Supreme Court
Chief judgeAbdelrrachid Tabbi

Politics of Algeria takes place in a framework of a constitutional semi-presidential republic, whereby the President of Algeria is head of state while the Prime Minister of Algeria is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the People's National Assembly and the Council of the Nation.

Since the early 1990s, a shift from a socialist to a free market economy has been ongoing with official support.

History

The civil war resulted in more than 100,000 deaths since 1991. However, Algerians believe that the national death count was close to 3,000,000. Although the security situation in the country has greatly improved, addressing the underlying issues which brought about the political turmoil of the 1990s remains the government's major task. The government officially lifted the state of emergency declared in 1999.[1]

Constitution

Under the 1976 Constitution (as modified 1979, and amended in 1988, 1989, and 1996) Algeria is a multi-party state. All parties must be approved by the Ministry of the Interior. To date, Algeria has had more than 40 legal political parties. According to the Constitution, no political association may be formed if it is "based on differences in religion, language, race, gender, or region."

Executive branch

The head of state is the President of the republic, who is elected to a five-year term, renewable once (changed by the 2008 Constitution to an infinite mandate but reinstated in 2016). Algeria has universal suffrage. The President is the head of the Council of Ministers and of the High Security Council. He appoints the Prime Minister who also is the head of government. The Prime Minister appoints the Council of Ministers.

Main office-holders
Office Name Party Since
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune Independent 19 December 2019
Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui Independent 11 November 2023

Parliament of Algeria

People's National Assembly

The People's National Assembly has less power relative to the executive branch than many parliaments and has been described as "rubber-stamping" laws proposed by the president.[2]

As of 2012 there were 462 seats in parliament. In the May 2012 election the government reported a 42.9% turnout, though the BBC reported that correspondents saw "only a trickle of voters" at polling places.[2] In that election 44 political parties participated with the ruling National Liberation Front winning more than any other group—220 seats—and an alliance of moderate Islamists coming in second with 66 seats. The Islamists disputed the results.[3]

Council of the Nation

Political parties and elections

In keeping with its amended Constitution, the Algerian Government espouses participatory democracy and free-market competition. The government has stated that it will continue to open the political process and encourage the creation of political institutions. More than 40 political parties, representing a wide segment of the population, are currently active in Algerian national politics. The most recent legislative election was 2012. President Bouteflika pledged to restructure the state as part of his overall reform efforts. However, no specifics are yet available as to how such reforms would affect political structures and the political process itself.

In the 2002 elections, there were 17,951,127 eligible voters, and 8,288,536 of them actually voted which made a turn out of 46.17%. Out of the ballots cast, there were 867,669 void ballots according to the Interior ministry and 7,420,867 which went to the various candidates.

Legislative elections

The most recent legislative election now is the 2017 one:

Party Votes % Seats +/-
National Liberation Front1,681,32125.99164–44
National Rally for Democracy964,56014.91100+32
MSP–FC393,6326.0933
Rally for Hope for Algeria270,1124.1819New
Future Front265,5644.1114+12
Algerian Popular Movement241,0873.7313+6
EnnahdaFJD239,1483.7015
Workers' Party191,9652.9711–13
Socialist Forces Front152,4892.3614–13
National Republican Alliance121,1561.876+4
Freedom and Justice Party88,4181.372
New Dawn82,9931.281
Dignity Party81,1801.263
Movement for National Reform77,2901.191
El Fath69,0631.071
Rally for Culture and Democracy65,8411.029+9
National Front for Social Justice63,8270.991
Party of Youth63,6820.982
Movement of National Understanding51,9600.804
New Algeria Front49,4130.761
Independante El Wihda42,7570.663
Ahd 5442,1600.652–1
Republican Patriotic Rally40,6450.6320
El-Infitah Movement38,0610.5911
National Struggle Front34,6950.542
Union of Democratic and Social Forces33,3720.521–2
National Front for Freedom31,9760.491
Free Democratic Front28,7900.452
National Party for Solidarity and Development28,6170.442–2
Party of Algerian Renewal24,5840.3810
National Assembly Union17,5770.271
El Taouasol16,3340.251
National Union for Development15,0370.231
El Hillal14,5820.231
National Movement of Algerian Workers14,3690.221
Movement of Free Citizens14,0850.2210
Equity and Proclamation Party13,4000.211
Hope and Work12,8030.201
Nidaa El Awfiaa12,2240.191
El Wafa Wa Tawassol12,1700.191
El Wihda Oua Ettadaoul10,7710.171
El Wafa10,5610.161
Voice of the People9,8310.151
Abnaa Echaab9,4270.151
El Ouancharisse9,0460.142
En Nadjah9,0190.141
El Ichrak8,9010.141
El Moubadara8,6620.131
Elamel8,3880.131
Al Kafaa Wal Masdakia7,8560.121
Old Ksar7,1490.111
Sawt Echaab6,6520.101
Izewran Independent List6,4020.101
El Amel6,3610.101
Independent Citizen Alternative List5,9770.091
El Darrouri5,6750.091
Forsane Ouargla5,4140.081
El Badr5,1610.081
El Noor4,5490.071
Citizen Initiative4,3090.071
Algerian National Front615,1309.510–9
Other parties0
Invalid/blank votes1,757,043
Total8,225,2231004620
Registered voters/turnout23,251,50337.37
Source: Constitutional Council

Presidential elections

Candidate Party Votes %
Abdelmadjid TebbouneIndependent4,945,11658.15
Abdelkader BengrinaEl Binaa1,477,73517.38
Ali BenflisTalaie El Houriyate896,93410.55
Azzedine MihoubiDemocratic National Rally617,7537.26
Abdelaziz BelaïdEl Moustakbal Front566,8086.66
Spoiled ballots1,243,458
Disputed votes11,588
Total valid votes8,504,346100
Total (valid + spoiled)9,759,392
Registered voters and percent turnout24,474,16139.88
Source: APS

Administrative divisions

Algeria is divided into 58 wilaya (province) headed by walis (governors) who report to the Minister of Interior. Each wilaya is further divided into daïras, themselves divided in communes. The wilayas and communes are each governed by an elected assembly.

Media

Algeria has more than 30 daily newspapers published in French and Arabic, with a total publication run of more than 1.5 million copies. Although relatively free to write as they choose, in 2001, the government amended the penal code provisions relating to defamation and slander, a step widely viewed as an effort to rein in the press. Government monopoly of newsprint and advertising is seen as another means to influence the press, although it has permitted newspapers to create their own printing distribution networks.

See also List of Algerian newspapers.

International organization participation

AU, ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, INTOSAI, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (applicant)

See also

Notes

    References

    1. Chikhi, Lamine (2011-01-21). "Algeria army should quit politics: opposition". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
    2. 1 2 Algeria votes in parliamentary elections 10 May 2012
    3. Ruling Party Wins Big in Algerian Elections| voanews.com| May 11, 2012
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