| 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 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
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 |
|
|
% of 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 of seats
|
|
|
|
|
| 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)
Educators
Unknown
Liberal professions (including artists, authors) and sports professionals
Retired
Legal professions
Medical professions (doctors, dentists, nurses)
Consultants (including real estate agents)
Business/trade/industry employees, including executives
Bankers (including invest bankers)/accountants
Military/police officers
Media-related professions (journalists/publishers)
Farmers/agricultural workers (including wine growers)
Unemployed
Economists
Scientists and researchers
|
131
56
41
37
31
30
20
13
12
7
3
2
2
2
1
1
|
| Comments |
Sources:
- http://www.legislatives2007.dz
- National People's Assembly (25.09.2007, 26.02.2008) |
