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ALGERIA
Al-Majlis Al-Chaabi Al-Watani (National People's Assembly)
ELECTIONS IN 2007

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module

A historical Archive of past election results for this chamber can be found on a separate page

Parliament name (generic / translated) Barlaman / Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Al-Majlis Al-Chaabi Al-Watani / National People's Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Majlis al-Oumma / Council of the Nation
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 17 May 2007
Purpose of elections Elections were held for all seats in the National People's Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
On 17 May 2007 over 12 000 candidates from 24 political parties and some 100 independent candidates contested the elections to the National People's Assembly the lower chamber of parliament.

In the previous elections held in May 2002 the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) won 199 of the 389 seats in the National People's Assembly. The National Democratic Rally (RND) came in second with 47 seats and the moderate Islamic party the Movement for a Peaceful Society (MSP) took 38 seats. Following the elections the three parties formed a parliamentary group called the Presidential Alliance. The main opposition parties the Movement of the National Renewal (El-Islah) and the Workers' Party (PT) took 43 and 21 seats respectively while the remainder went to small parties.

The FLN the RND and the MSP maintained the alliance in the 2007 elections. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem of the FLN pledged to work towards greater social stability raise salaries and amend the constitution. He had proposed extending the presidential term from the current five years to seven and removing the two-term limit.

The Movement of the National Renewal (El-Islah) was reportedly weakened by a conflict between its former president Sheikh Abdellah Djabellah and new leader Mr. Mohamed Boulahia. Sheikh Djabellah subsequently called for an election boycott while Mr. Boulahia called for voters' support promising to create more jobs. The PT led by Ms. Louiza Hanoune promised that it would introduce a minimum wage of 25 000 Algerian dinars (about US$ 375) and provide better transport and health care.

The opposition Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD a secular Berber party) which boycotted the 2002 elections participated in the 2007 vote. However the elections were boycotted by other opposition parties - the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) the Islamist National Reform Movement (MNR) and the Social Democratic Movement (MDS). The FFS leader Mr. Hocine Ait Ahmed - a prominent opposition figure - called the elections a "sham" and argued that elections held under a state of emergency had no legitimacy. The banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) also called for an election boycott.

Many political parties used their website in the 2007 elections to appeal to three million internet users in the country. The MSP also set up a blog appealing to young voters to fight vice and vote for the MSP.

Prior to the elections the country was hit by a series of violent incidents for which an extremist Islamic movement claimed responsibility. On 11 April three explosions occurred in Algiers (including one near the prime minister's office) killing 33 people. The Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb group claimed responsibility. A blast also occurred on the eve of the polling day killing one police officer in the eastern province of Constantine.

Overall turnout including Algerians living abroad fell to 35.51 per cent (down from 46.17 per cent in 2002) the lowest in the country's history.

The FLN remained the largest party with 136 seats although it lost 63. Its allies the RND and the MSP took 62 and 51 seats respectively. Following the elections 14 independent members joined the FLN giving the ruling camp a total of 263 seats. The PT became the largest opposition party followed by the RCD with 19 seats while the Movement of the National Renewal (El-Islah) took only three seats losing 40. In all 30 were women elected.

The newly-elected National People's Assembly held its first session on 31 May 2007 and elected Mr. Abdelaziz Ziari (FLN) as its new Speaker.

On 4 June President Abdelaziz Bouteflika re-appointed Mr. Belkhadem as Prime Minister.
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 117 May 2007
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
18'760'400
6'662'383 (35.51%)
961'751
5'700'632
Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political Group Candidates Votes %
National Liberation Front (FLN) 1'315'686 23.08
National Democratic Rally (RND) 591'310 10.37
Movement for a Peaceful Society (MSP) 552'104 9.68
Independents 562'986 9.88
Workers' Party (PT) 291'312 5.11
Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) 192'490 3.38
Algerian National Front 239'563 4.20
National Movement for Nature and Development (MNND) 114'767 2.01
Nahdha Movement 194'067 3.40
Movement for Youth and Democracy (MJD) 132'268 2.32
Movement of National Understanding 122'501 2.15
Party of Algerian Renewal (PRA) 103'328 1.81
National Republican Alliance (ANR) 126'444 2.22
Movement of the National Renewal (El-Islah) 144'880 2.54
El Infitah Movement (MEI) 143'936 2.52
National Front of Independents for Concord (FNIC) 112'321 1.97
AHD 54 129'300 2.27
National Party for Solidarity and Development (PNSD) 119'353 2.09
National Hope Movement (MNE) 99'179 1.74
Republican Patriotic Rally (RPR) 84'348 1.48
Algerian Rally (RA) 100'079 1.76
National Democratic Front (FND) 78'865 1.38
Democratic and social Movement (MDS) 51'219 0.90
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total
National Liberation Front (FLN) 136
National Democratic Rally (RND) 61
Movement for a Peaceful Society (MSP) 52
Independents 33
Workers' Party (PT) 26
Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) 19
Algerian National Front 13
National Movement for Nature and Development (MNND) 7
Nahdha Movement 5
Movement for Youth and Democracy (MJD) 5
Movement of National Understanding 4
Party of Algerian Renewal (PRA) 4
National Republican Alliance (ANR) 4
Movement of the National Renewal (El-Islah) 3
El Infitah Movement (MEI) 3
National Front of Independents for Concord (FNIC) 3
AHD 54 2
National Party for Solidarity and Development (PNSD) 2
National Hope Movement (MNE) 2
Republican Patriotic Rally (RPR) 2
Algerian Rally (RA) 1
National Democratic Front (FND) 1
Democratic and social Movement (MDS) 1
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men
Women
Percent of women
359
30
7.71%
Distribution of seats according to age
21 to 30 years
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
Over 70 years
1
48
147
155
31
7
Distribution of seats according to profession
Civil/public servants/administrators (including social/development workers) 131
Educators 56
Unknown 41
Liberal professions (including artists authors) and sports professionals 37
Retired 31
Legal professions 30
Medical professions (doctors dentists nurses) 20
Consultants (including real estate agents) 13
Business/trade/industry employees including executives 12
Bankers (including invest bankers)/accountants 7
Military/police officers 3
Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) 2
Farmers/agricultural workers (including wine growers) 2
Unemployed 2
Economists 1
Scientists and researchers 1
Comments
Sources:
- http://www.legislatives2007.dz
- National People's Assembly (25.09.2007 26.02.2008 25.12.2011)

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