The Algerian government is seeking to overhaul the nation’s political landscape with a new law governing political parties. Minister of Interior, Local Authorities, and National Planning, Said Saayoud, presented the draft organic law to the Legal, Administrative Affairs, and Freedoms Committee of the People’s National Assembly, emphasizing its goal of restructuring political practices based on constitutional, legal, and institutional foundations.
Saayoud stated that the draft law is in line with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s directives, which emphasized thorough studies and extensive consultations with political actors, academics, and legal experts to formulate a comprehensive and clear legal text. The proposed law, comprising 97 articles across seven chapters, aims to provide political parties with ample scope to operate and actively participate in political life, including the right to appeal before judicial bodies. However, this participation is contingent upon adherence to national values, the Constitution, and democratic principles.
The draft law explicitly prohibits parties from engaging in activities based on religious, regional, or ethnic grounds, or establishing relationships of dependence on foreign interests, safeguarding national sovereignty, public order, and democratic values. It also seeks to enhance the role of parties in public affairs by enabling them to contribute to the implementation of government policies and offer suggestions on public administration and policy formulation.
Key provisions of the new law include establishing a five-year term limit for political leaders, renewable only once, promoting transparency in party funding by prohibiting foreign funding, mandating the declaration of donations and contributions, and monitoring financial accounts. The law also introduces penalties to combat party switching by elected officials, potentially leading to the revocation of their mandate and removal from the party list. Furthermore, the law allows for the temporary suspension or dissolution of a party if it fails to present candidates in two consecutive elections, ensuring that serious parties are capable of fulfilling their role in society.
Saayoud concluded by asserting that the draft law represents a strategic step towards strengthening democratic life in Algeria, positioning political parties at the heart of the national political scene as responsible and transparent actors.
