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Algeria - Government and Political Conditions (Notes)

GOVERNMENT Under the 1976 Constitution (as modified 1979, and amended in 1988, 1989, and 1996) Algeria is a multi-party state. The Ministry of the Interior must approve all political parties. According to the Constitution, no political association may be formed 'based on differences in religion, language, race gender or region.' Algeria has universal suffrage at the age of 18. The head of state is the president of the republic. The president, elected to a five-year term, and constitutionally limited to two terms, is the head of the Council of Ministers and of the High Security Council. He appoints the prime minister as well as one-third of the upper house (the Council of the Nation). The prime minister presides over the Council of Ministers and serves as head of the government. The Algerian Parliament is bicameral, consisting of a lower chamber, the National People's Assembly (APN), with 380 members and an upper chamber, the Council of the Nation, with 144 members. The APN is elected every five years. The next round of legislative elections is scheduled to take place in 2007. Two-thirds of the Council of the Nation is elected by regional and municipal authorities; the rest are appointed by the president. The Council of the Nation serves a six-year term with one-half of the seats up for election or reappointment every three years. The next round of elections and appointments to the Council of the Nation will occur in May 2007. Either the president or one of the parliamentary chambers may initiate legislation. Legislation must be brought before both chambers before it becomes law. Sessions of the APN are televised. Algeria is divided into 48 wilayates (states or provinces) headed by walis (governors) who report to the Minister of Interior. Each wilaya is further divided into communes. The wilayates and communes are each governed by an elected assembly. Principal Government Officials President and Minister of National Defense--Abdelaziz Bouteflika Head of Government (Prime Minister)--Abdelaziz Belkhadem Minister of State for the Interior and Local Communities--Nourredine Yazid Zerhouni Minister of State for Foreign Affairs--Mohamed Bedjaoui Minister of State--Soltani Boudjerra Minister Delegate in Charge of National Defense--Abdelmalek Guenaizia Other Ministers Agriculture and Rural Development--Said Barkat Commerce--El Hachemi Djaaboub Culture--Khalida Toumi Energy and Mines--Chakib Khelil Environment--Cherif Rahmani Finance--Mourad Medelci Fisheries and Sea Resources--Smail Mimoune Health, Population and Hospital Reform--Amar Tou Higher Education and Scientific Research--Rachid Harraoubia Housing & Urban Planning--Mohamed Nadir Hamimid Industry--Mahmoud Khoudri Jobs and National Solidarity--Djamal Ould-Abbes Justice--Tayeb Belaiz Labor and Social Security--Tayeb Louh Moudjahidine (Veterans)--Mohamed Cherif Abbas National Education--Boubekeur Benbouzid Participation and Investment Promotion--Abdelhamid Temmar Posts, Information and Communications Technologies--Boudjemaa Haichour Public Works--Amar Ghoul Minister in Charge of Relations With the Parliament--Abdelaziz Ziari Religious Affairs--Bouabdellah Ghlamallah Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Craft Industries--Mustapha Benbada Tourism--Noureddine Moussa Transport--Mohamed Maghlaoui Vocational Training--El Hadi Khaldi Water Resources--Abdelmalek Sellal Youth and Sports--Yahia Guiddoum Ministers Delegate Minister Delegate in Charge of Maghrebian and African Affairs--Abdelkader Messahel Minister Delegate in Charge of the Family and Women's Affairs--Nouara Saadia Djaafar Minister Delegate in Charge of Financial Reform--Karim Djoudi Minister Delegate in Charge of Local Collectives--Daho Ould Kablia Minister Delegate in Charge of Rural Development--Rachid Benaissa Minister Delegate in Charge of Scientific Research--Souad Bendjaballah Minister Delegate in Charge of Town Planning & Environment--Abderrachid Boukerzaza Other Government Officials Secretary General of the Government--Ahmed Noui Speaker of the National People's Assembly (Lower House)--Amar Saadani Speaker of the Council of the Nation (Upper House)--Abdelkader Bensalah Governor, Central Bank--Mohamed Laksaci Ambassador to the United States--Amine Kherbi Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York--Youcef Yousfi