Global Integrity Report

The Global Integrity Report (report.globalintegrity.org)

Algeria Home

Facts

Timeline

Notebook

Integrity Scorecard

2007 Assessment

Algeria: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Algeria: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Voting & Citizen Participation
Indicators		Score
14	Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?	100
15	Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?	67
16	Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?	60

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?

14a: In law, universal and equal adult suffrage is guaranteed to all citizens.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article 50 - Any citizen fulfilling the legal conditions can vote and be elected.

References: Algerian Constitution of 28 November 1996 Chapter 4, Article 50 [ LINK ]

14b: In law, there is a legal framework requiring that elections be held at regular intervals.

Score:

YES

Comments: President: Article 74 - The duration of the presidential mandate is five years. The President of the Republic can be reelected only once.

National Assembly: Art. 102 - The People's National Assembly is elected for a period of five years. The mandate of the Council of Nation is limited to six years. Half the members of the Council of Nation are subject to reelection every three years.

References: Algerian constitution of 28 November 1996 Part 2, Chapter 1 & 2 Article 74 & 102 [ LINK ]

Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?

15a: In practice, all adult citizens can vote.

Score:

100

Comments: All adults, as soon as they reach the age of 18 are automatically added to the "National File" in the different communities and offices of the mayor. As soon as they are registered, they receive their voter cards and they can vote during elections.

References: Interview with government official, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

15b: In practice, ballots are secret or equivalently protected.

Score:

100

Comments: There were no federal elections in 2006.

References: There were no federal elections in 2006.

Peer Review Comments: Ballots are secret and protected in a vast majority of cases.

15c: In practice, elections are held according to a regular schedule.

Score:

100

Comments: There were no federal elections in 2006. The results of elections had been cancelled during a period of 3 years when no elections were held - during the early stage of the state of emergency, which had been imposed in 1992.

References: There were no federal elections in 2006.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, on a regular basis and periodically. Elections are sometimes delayed due to major constraints. In 2007, for example, local elections were delayed to the end of November, because the Holy Month of Ramadan occurred in September.

Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?

16a: In law, all citizens have a right to form political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article 50 - Any citizen fulfilling the legal conditions can elect and be elected. Article 51 - Equal access to functions and positions in the State is guaranteed to all citizens without any other conditions except those defined by the law.

References: Algerian Constitution of 28 November 1996 Part 1, Chapter 4 Article 50 & 51 [ LINK ]

16b: In law, all citizens have a right to run for political office.

Score:

YES

References: Algerian Constitution of 28 November 1996 Part 1, Chapter 4 Article 50 & 51 [ LINK ]

16c: In practice, all citizens are able to form political parties.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: While there is no guarantee of electoral success, political parties can form freely without opposition. <p>50 Score Criteria: Some barriers to formation are present, such as burdensome registration requirements that may not be fairly applied. Some parties\' political viewpoints may draw pressure from the government, such as surveillance or intimidation. Some political parties or organizations may have extra barriers to getting on a ballot. <p>0 Score Criteria: Some political parties are effectively barred from forming through some manner of official or unofficial pressure. This may include threats, arrest, or violence from competing parties or other groups.$

Comments: "Even if the constitution allows the forming of new parties, there has not been a new party since the end of the 1980s/beginning of the 1990s. The sole exception is the "Rassemblement National pour le Démocratie" (RND), which has been created in 1997 by the leading political force. This party was created to gain ground in the parliament and to allow the ruling FLN to stay on top of the power."

References: Interview with a member of an Algerian opposition party, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: The law prohibits the creation of parties based on ethnic, religious or historical foundations. Constitution 1989.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, under certain conditions, which are not always stated.

16d: In practice, all citizens can run for political office.

Score:

100

Comments: The candidates are often selected by groups or clans within the individual parties. Independent candidates only have a chance to present themselves if they are considered as useful by other well-established parties. Other independent candidates are not able to register as their papers are lost by the administration or they receive a response too late.

References: Interview with a member of an Algerian opposition party, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: Yes. In practice, all citizens can run for political office under certain conditions clearly stated in the constitution.

16e: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The opposition party always has some influence on the proceedings of the legislature. The opposition party can introduce legislation or bring pending matters to a vote without the consent of the ruling party. <p>50 Score Criteria: The opposition party has influence on the proceeding of the legislature, but it is limited in scope. The opposition\'s ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics may be limited. <p>0 Score Criteria: The opposition party has only token participation in the legislature\'s proceedings and cannot advance legislation or force a debate.$

Comments: Even if the opposition parties take part in elections, there are always the same parties, which stay in power. In reality, opposition parties do not have an meaningful impact on legislative issues.

References: Interview with a member of an Algerian opposition party, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: The opposition parties are in the minority position.

Peer Review Comments: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature if elected.