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. A legacy of Algeria's bloody War of Independence from France is a powerful military and security apparatus that put a high value on secrecy. Since 1988, parties other than the ruling FLN have been allowed and multiparty elections have been held, but freedom of political speech, protest and assembly is circumscribed, and the 2014 presidential election was boycotted by major opposition parties. Algeria has been called a "controlled democracy", or a state where the military and "a select group" of unelected civilians—reportedly known to Algerians as "le pouvoir" —make major decisions, such as who should be president.
The President of Algeria is the head of state and chief executive of Algeria, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Algerian People's National Armed Forces.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, GColIH is an Algerian politician who has been the fifth President of Algeria since 1999. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1963 to 1979. As President, he presided over the end of the bloody Algerian Civil War in 2002, and he ended emergency rule in February 2011 amidst regional unrest. He was the president of the United Nations General Assembly for a term in 1974.
Ahmed Ouyahia is an Algerian politician who has been Prime Minister of Algeria since 2017; previously he was Prime Minister from 1995 to 1998, from 2003 to 2006, and from 2008 to 2012. A career diplomat, he also served as Minister of Justice, and he was one of the founders of the National Rally for Democracy (RND) as well as the party's secretary-general. He is considered by Western observers to be close to the military of Algeria and a member of the "eradicator" faction in the 1990s civil war against Islamist militants.
The Popular Movement is a royalist and traditionalist rural-focused political party in Morocco. It is a member of Liberal International.
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian Government and various Islamic rebel groups which began in 1991 following a coup negating an Islamist electoral victory. The war began slowly as it first appeared the government had successfully crushed the Islamist movement, but armed groups emerged to fight jihad and by 1994, violence had reached such a level that it appeared the government might not be able to withstand it. By 1996–7 however it became clear that the violence and predation of the Islamists had lost its popular support, although fighting continued for several years after.
The People's National Assembly, abbreviated APN, is the lower house of the Algerian Parliament. It is composed of 462 members directly elected by the population. Of the 462 seats, 8 are reserved for Algerians living abroad. Members of the People's National Assembly are directly elected through proportional representation in multiple-member districts and serve terms lasting five years at a time. The last election for this body was held on 17 May 2017. This body and of the Algerian Parliament is seen as nonrepresentative of the Algerian people's interest because of the presidency, which controls the majority of governmental power. The minimum age required for election into the APN is 28.
Legislative elections were held in Algeria on 17 May 2007. 24 political parties and around 100 independent lists with a total of more than 12,000 candidates competed for the 389 seats in the National People's Assembly. While most Algerians voted on May 17, immigrants from Algeria to other countries and Algerians living in the Sahara and other nomads and semi-nomads voted on May 16 due to the distance from Algiers, the country's capital.
A referendum to approve the Évian Accords ending the Algerian War and granting self-determination to Algeria was held in France on 8 April 1962. It was approved by 90.8% of voters with a 75.3% turnout.
During the 1962 Algerian War of Independence, Algerian women fought as equals alongside men. They thus achieved a new sense of their own identity and a measure of acceptance from men. In the aftermath of the war, women maintained their new-found emancipation and became more involved in the development of the new state. Among the countries of the region, Algeria is regarded as a relatively liberal nation and the status of women reflects this. However, while the constitution guarantees equality between genders, family law discriminates against women. Women can vote and run for political positions.
Events from the year 1962 in France.
Constituent Assembly elections were held in Algeria on 28 September 1962, the first since independence in July. The Assembly was to have a one-year mandate to draw up and promulgate a constitution. A single list of 196 National Liberation Front candidates was put to voters to approve, 180 of which were Arabs and 16 of which were of European origin. A reported 99.7% voted in favour, with a turnout of 83.8%.
Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 10 December 1976. Incumbent Houari Boumediene, leader of the National Liberation Front, was the only candidate, and was elected unopposed with 99.5% of the vote.
Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 12 January 1984. Incumbent Chadli Bendjedid, leader of the National Liberation Front, was re-elected unopposed with 99.42% of the vote, based on a 96.28% voter turnout.
A constitutional referendum was held in Algeria on 19 November 1976. The amendments restored the People's National Assembly and allowed for the direct election of the President, as well as creating a socialist state and confirming the National Liberation Front as the sole legal party., Approved by 99% of voters with a 92.9% turnout, the revised constitution was promulgated on 22 November.
Presidential elections were held for the first time in Algeria on 15 September 1963. Incumbent Ahmed Ben Bella of the National Liberation Front was the only candidate, and was re-elected with 99.6% of the vote, based on an 88.9% turnout.
A legislative election was held in Algeria on 10 May 2012. The incumbent coalition, consisting of the FLN of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the RND of Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, held on to power after winning a majority of seats. The Islamist parties of the Green Algeria Alliance lost seats.
Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Algeria on 18 April 2019.
