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 1 | 17 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) |