Algeria’s Election Authority: Women’s Representation Remains Mandatory Despite One-Third Exemption

Algeria’s National Independent Electoral Authority has issued a clarifying statement directed at candidate lists registered for the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for July 2, warning that exemptions from the one-third women’s representation requirement do not eliminate the obligation to include female candidates.

The authority told dzwatch that while lists may apply for exemption from the strict one-third quota outlined in Article 191 of Order No. 21-01 dated March 10, 2021, this exemption applies solely to the proportional threshold — not to women’s representation altogether.

The authority stressed that all candidate lists must still include a minimum number of female candidates as required by law, regardless of any granted exemption. Lists failing to meet this minimum threshold face outright rejection, the authority confirmed.