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| Algerian Parliament | |
|---|---|
| Name | People's National Assembly and Council of the Nation |
| Native name | Assemblée populaire nationale et Conseil de la Nation |
| Legislature | 9th People's National Assembly |
| House type | Bicameral |
| Leader1 type | President of the Council of the Nation |
| Leader1 | Salah Goudjil |
| Leader2 type | President of the People's National Assembly |
| Leader2 | Ibrahim Boughali |
| Established | 1962 |
| Seats | 614 (462 APN, 152 CN) |
| Meeting place | Palace of Nations, Algiers |
| Website | Official websites |
Algerian Parliament
The Algerian Parliament is the bicameral legislature of Algeria, constituted by two chambers: the lower house, the People's National Assembly, and the upper house, the Council of the Nation. It operates within the constitutional framework established after the Algerian War of Independence and successive constitutions, interacting with institutions such as the President of Algeria, the Prime Minister of Algeria, and judicial bodies including the Constitutional Council (Algeria). Major political actors that shape its composition have included National Liberation Front (Algeria), National Rally for Democracy (Algeria), and newer movements emerging after the 2019 Algerian protests.
Legislative antecedents trace to the post-Evian Accords period and the first assemblies formed after independence, influenced by leaders such as Ahmed Ben Bella and Houari Boumédiène. The 1976 Constitution under Boumédiène established a centralized single-party legislature dominated by the National Liberation Front (Algeria), later modified during the 1988 uprising that precipitated the 1989 Constitution introducing multipartism and institutions like the People's National Assembly. The Civil Concord referendum and the effects of the Algerian Civil War (1991–2002) reconfigured parliamentary politics; the creation of the Council of the Nation in 1997 aimed to stabilize representation and provide regional balances. The 2016 constitutional amendments and the 2020–2021 debates following the Hirak Movement prompted further institutional scrutiny and reform proposals.
The legislature is bicameral: the People's National Assembly (lower chamber) and the Council of the Nation (upper chamber). The APN's deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage under electoral law frameworks shaped by the Electoral Law (Algeria) and influenced by norms from electoral contests involving parties such as Movement of Society for Peace and Workers' Party (Algeria). The Council of the Nation comprises members elected by local and regional councils and presidential appointees, reflecting ties with territorial entities like provincial wilayas and local assemblies established after decentralization reforms. Leadership positions—presidents of each chamber—coordinate with state actors including the President of Algeria and ministries such as the Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities (Algeria).
Constitutional powers derive from the Constitution of Algeria. The Parliament legislates, scrutinizes the executive through questions and inquiries, and approves budgets connected to the Ministry of Finance (Algeria). It ratifies international agreements, including treaties overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Algeria), and can propose constitutional amendments alongside mechanisms involving the Constitutional Council (Algeria) and presidential referendums. The APN initiates ordinary bills while the CN provides review and territorial representation; both chambers participate in oversight of security institutions like the People's National Army (Algeria) and agencies concerned with energy policy linked to Sonatrach.
Bills originate from the executive led by the Prime Minister of Algeria or from deputies and councils; the process follows readings, committee reviews, and plenary votes within the APN and CN per procedures aligned with the Constitution of Algeria. Finance bills are subject to special rules and parliamentary timelines coordinated with the Ministry of Finance (Algeria). When disagreements arise, joint commissions and conciliation procedures can involve presidents of both chambers and, ultimately, referral to constitutional mechanisms adjudicated by the Constitutional Council (Algeria). Emergency legislation and state-of-exception measures interact with presidential powers vested in the President of Algeria.
Parliamentary composition has featured long-standing parties such as the National Liberation Front (Algeria) and National Rally for Democracy (Algeria), Islamist formations like the Movement of Society for Peace, leftist parties including the Workers' Party (Algeria), and independent deputies often tied to local elites and professional networks such as trade unions like the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA). Electoral dynamics have been affected by boycotts, coalitions, and the rise of civic movements associated with the Hirak Movement, altering party representation and prompting debates on proportional representation and thresholds defined in electoral laws.
The Parliament interacts with the executive through confidence votes, appointment confirmations, and oversight mechanisms; the Prime Minister and cabinet are accountable to the APN under constitutional constructs shaped during the presidencies of Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Judicial review by the Constitutional Council (Algeria) and jurisprudence from judicial institutions in Algiers mediate conflicts between legislative acts and constitutional provisions. Relations with institutions such as the Supreme Court (Algeria) and administrative tribunals influence legislation on sectors involving Sonelgaz and public enterprises.
Critiques cite limited pluralism during certain periods, concerns raised during the 2019 Algerian protests about legitimacy, and calls from civil society organizations and international observers for transparency, campaign finance reform, and enhanced parliamentary independence. Reform proposals range from modifying electoral laws and strengthening committee systems to expanding regional representation through changes to the Council of the Nation appointment mechanisms. Debates over constitutional revision, stimulated by the Hirak Movement and the 2020–2021 national consultations, continue to shape proposals aiming to rebalance powers among the Presidency, Parliament, and institutions such as the Constitutional Council (Algeria).
Category:Politics of Algeria Category:Legislatures by country