| Algeria: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Legislative Accountability | ||
| Indicators | Score | |
| 29 | Can members of the legislature be held accountable for their actions? | 50 |
| 30 | Are there regulations governing conflicts of interest by members of the national legislature? | 50 |
| 31 | Can citizens access the asset disclosure records of members of the national legislature? | 8 |
| 32 | Can citizens access legislative processes and documents? | 92 |
Indicator and sub-Indicator Details
| 29 | Can members of the legislature be held accountable for their actions? | |||||||
| 29a: In law, the judiciary can review laws passed by the legislature. | ||||||||
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Comments: Article 143 - Justice deals with appeals against an administrative authority's decisions. Article 147 - Judges arbitrate disputes of law only. This is a vague area in law. The state council informally performs this role in practice though cannot be considered a judicial body per se. Theoretically the courts would have jurisdiction to review laws but in practice this does not happen. References: Algerian Constitution of 28 November 1996 Chapter 3, Articles 143 & 147 [ LINK ]
Peer Review Comments: The state council is the supreme institution that can arbitrate disputes between the administration and citizens. It also has a consultative role prior to the enactment of laws. Loi organique n° 98-01 du 30/05/1998 relative aux compétences, à l'organisation et au fonctionnement du Conseil d'Etat. ARTICLE 4 Le Conseil d'Etat donne son avis sur les projets de lois dans les conditions fixées par la présente loi et selon les modalités fixées par son règlement intérieur. ARTICLE 12 Le Conseil d'Etat, saisi selon les dispositions prévues à l'article 4 ci-dessus, donne son avis sur les projets de textes qui lui sont soumis et propose toutes modifications qu'il juge nécessaire. 2- The constitutional court is an institution that control the conformity of laws with the constitution Dispositions de la constitution du 28/11/1996 ARTICLE 165 Outre les autres attributions qui lui sont expressément conférées par dautres dispositions de la Constitution, le Conseil constitutionnel se prononce sur la constitutionnalité des traités, lois et règlements, soit par un avis si ceux-ci ne sont pas rendus exécutoires, soit par une décision dans le cas contraire. Le Conseil constitutionnel, saisi par le Président de la République , émet un avis obligatoire sur la constitutionnalité des lois organiques après leur adoption par le Parlement.
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| 29b: In practice, when necessary, the judiciary reviews laws passed by the legislature. | ||||||||
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Comments: "Judiciary reviews are not part of the activities of the judiciary branch." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a non-governmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: The constitutional council, when it is solicited. Le conseil d'etat also has an advisory role.
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| 29c: In law, are members of the national legislature subject to criminal proceedings? | ||||||||
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Comments: Should an Algerian legislator have been involved in crimes connected to the years of the civil war (1992 - 2000), he falls under the above cited amnesty. Additionally members of the parliament are granted immunity during their mandate. Excerpt of the Ordinance for Peace and National Reconciliation [...] Article 45 - No legal proceedings may be initiated against an individual or a collective entity, belonging to any component whatsoever of the defense and security forces of the Republic, for actions conducted for the purpose of protecting persons and property, safeguarding the nation or preserving the institutions of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria. The competent judicial authorities are to summarily dismiss all accusations or complaints. [...] Excerpt of the Algerian constitution: Art. 109 - Parliamentary immunity is recognized to deputies and members of the Council of Nation during the period of their mandate. They cannot be subject to lawsuits, arrest, or in general, to any civil or penal action or pressure because of opinions they expressed, utterances they make or votes they gave during the exercise of their mandate. Art. 110 - Lawsuits cannot be instituted against a deputy or a member of the Council of Nation for crime or infringement unless there is an explicit renunciation of the concerned or an authorization according to the case from the People's National Assembly or the Council of Nation which decides by the majority of its members to lift the immunity. Art. 111 - In case of flagrant infringement or flagrant crime, the deputy or the member of the Council of Nation may be arrested. The bureau of the People's National Assembly or of the Council of Nation, depending on the case, is informed immediately. The informed bureau may ask the suspension of lawsuits and the liberation of the deputy or the member of the Council of Nation; it will then be proceeded according to the provisions of article 110 above mentioned. References: Algerian Constitution of 28 November 1996 Articles 109, 110 & 111. [ LINK ] Ordinance 06-01 from February 27th, 2006 with regards to the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation Article 45
Peer Review Comments: IT is necessary to lift before the immunity . Constittution de 1989 Art. 110 - Les poursuites ne peuvent être engagées contre un député ou un membre du Conseil de la Nation, pour crime ou délit, que sur renonciation expresse de l'intéressé ou sur autorisation, selon le cas, de l'Assemblée Populaire Nationale ou du Conseil de la Nation, qui décide à la majorité de ses membres la levée de son immunité. Art. 111 - En cas de flagrant délit ou de crime flagrant, il peut être procédé à l'arrestation du député ou du membre du Conseil de la Nation. Le bureau de l'Assemblée Populaire Nationale ou du Conseil de la Nation, selon le cas, en est immédiatement informé. Il peut être demandé par le bureau saisi, la suspension des poursuites et la mise en liberté du député ou du membre du Conseil de la Nation; il sera alors procédé conformément aux dispositions de l'article 110 ci-dessus. There is recent case where immunit parliamentary had been lift for murder. The lreconciliation law is really specific situation, limited to crimes comitted in connection with terrorism and antiterrorism
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| 30 | Are there regulations governing conflicts of interest by members of the national legislature? | |||||||
| 30a: In law, members of the national legislature are required to file an asset disclosure form. | ||||||||
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Comments: "Such a requirement does not exist for Algerian legislators." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: Legislators are required to disclose assets.
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| 30b: In law, there are restrictions for national legislators entering the private sector after leaving the government. | ||||||||
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Comments: "Such a requirement does not exist for Algerian legislators." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
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| 30c: In law, there are regulations governing gifts and hospitality offered to members of the national legislature. | ||||||||
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Comments: Guidelines for the acceptance of gifts and hospitality do not exist, but if the gifts are received in order to be considered as an influence on any process the elected person can be prosecuted according to the Penal Code. References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007. loi n° 90-15 du 14 juillet 1990 Art; 126/1 Penal Code. [ LINK ]
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| 30d: In law, there are requirements for the independent auditing of the asset disclosure forms of members of the national legislature. | ||||||||
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Comments: The above-mentioned article states that there are internal requirements for the organization of the auditing of the submitted declarations. References: Ordonnance n° 97-04 du 11 Janvier 1997 MINISTERE DE LA JUSTICE JO N° 3 du 12 Janvier 1997, Page 7 Article 9
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| 30e: In practice, the regulations restricting post-government private sector employment for national legislators are effective. | ||||||||
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Comments: "Such regulations do not exist." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: This regulation exists, but its effectiveness is not verified yet.
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| 30f: In practice, the regulations governing gifts and hospitality offered to national legislators are effective. | ||||||||
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Comments: "Such regulations do not exist." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: Gifts and hospitality to legislators are forbidden when the the aim is to obtain advantages. But proving this intent is very difficult.
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| 30g: In practice, national legislative branch asset disclosures are audited. | ||||||||
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Comments: "The declarations are audited, but in which way standards are applied, is not known." The declarations are audited, but they are disclosed publicly only for certain members of the government. This is not done automatically. References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a NGO attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: Auditing does not take place. If it were, it would not be made public.
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| 31 | Can citizens access the asset disclosure records of members of the national legislature? | |||||||
| 31a: In law, citizens can access the asset disclosure records of members of the national legislature. | ||||||||
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Comments: The above-mentioned article states that the information about the assets of legislators is to be treated confidentially. Only members of the auditing commission and certain members of the judiciary can access these reports. References: Ordonnance n° 97-04 du 11 Janvier 1997 MINISTERE DE LA JUSTICE JO N° 3 du 12 Janvier 1997, Page 7 Article 11
Peer Review Comments: Asset disclosure for members of the national legislature must be published.
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| 31b: In practice, citizens can access legislative asset disclosure records within a reasonable time period. | ||||||||
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Comments: "Ordinary citizens cannot access these records." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: Despite legal obligation, it is difficult to verify, even if declarations are made.
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| 31c: In practice, citizens can access legislative asset disclosure records at a reasonable cost. | ||||||||
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Comments: "Ordinary citizens cannot access these records." Only the records of certain legislators have been made public. References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a NGO attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: In practice , in spite of legal obligation , it is difficult to verify if all members of national legislature if declaration is effctiverly made. but whwn they are published citizens can access in official journal
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| 32 | Can citizens access legislative processes and documents? | |||||||
| 32a: In law, citizens can access records of legislative processes and documents. | ||||||||
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Comments: Article 116 - The sittings of the Parliament are public. The proceedings are recorded in a book and published in accordance with the conditions defined by an organic law. References: Algerian Constitution of 28 November 1996 Article 116 [ LINK ]
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| 32b: In practice, citizens can access records of legislative processes and documents within a reasonable time period. | ||||||||
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Comments: "The documents can be accessed via the Internet through the official journal through the Internet." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
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| 32c: In practice, citizens can access records of legislative processes and documents at a reasonable cost. | ||||||||
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Comments: "The documents can be accessed via the Internet through the official journal via the Internet at no cost." References: Interviews with a member of the judiciary and a nongovernmental organization attorney, who wish to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.
Peer Review Comments: Access to the Internet is not free for the general public.
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