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2007 Assessment

Algeria: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Algeria: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Budget Processes
Indicators		Score
37	Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?	50
38	Can citizens access the national budgetary process?	42
39	In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?	100
40	Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?	38

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?

37a: In law, the legislature can amend the budget.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article 122 - The Parliament legislates in the domains which the Constitution assigned to it, as well as the following domains: [...] 12 - voting the State budget; [...]

References: Algerian Constitution of 28 November 1996 Chapter 2, The Legislative power Article 122 [ LINK ]

37b: In practice, significant public expenditures require legislative approval.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: All significant government expenditures (defined as any project costing more than 1% of the total national budget), must be approved by the legislature. This includes defense and secret programs, which may be debated in closed hearings. 50 Score Criteria: Most significant government expenditures (as defined) are approved by the legislature, but some exceptions to this rule exist. This may include defense programs, an executive\'s personal budget, or other expenses. 0 Score Criteria: The legislature does not have the power to approve or disapprove large portions of the government budget, or the legislature does not exercise this power in a meaningful way.$

Comments: "Theoretically the legislators could use their power to create more input, but because there is no real opposition, the budget proposals by the government are largely accepted by the parliament."

References: Interview with a member of the judiciary branch, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: Public expenditures require legislative approval, according to the constitution.

37c: In practice, the legislature has sufficient capacity to monitor the budget process and provide input or changes.

Score:

100

References: Interview with a member of the judiciary branch, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Can citizens access the national budgetary process?

38a: In practice, the national budgetary process is conducted in a transparent manner in the debating stage (i.e. before final approval).

Score:

100

Comments: "The budgetary process can be followed by the public in a relatively sufficiently easy manner."

References: Interview with a member of the judiciary branch, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

38b: In practice, citizens provide input at budget hearings.

Score:

100

Comments: "Ordinary citizens cannot provide input at budgetary hearings."

References: Interview with a member of the judiciary branch, who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

38c: In practice, citizens can access itemized budget allocations.

Score:

100

Comments: Citizens and journalists can access individual budget items. The above-mentioned article is an example. But, in practice things seems to be more complicated.

References: IT Mag n°95 LAPW dAlger dégage un budget de 33 millions de dinars by Ahmed Gasmia loutil informatique dans ladministration de la capitale dimanche 3 septembre 2006

In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

39: In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

Score:

YES

Comments: Commission des affaires économiques, du développement, de l'industrie, du commerce et de la planification" [ LINK ]

References: Interview with a member of the parliament who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: There is a parliamentary commission that specializes in financial questions.

Peer Review Comments: By law, there is a separate legislative committee that provides oversight of public funds (Cf. Affaires Economiques).

Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?

40a: In practice, department heads regularly submit reports to this committee.

Score:

100

Comments: Commission des affaires économiques, du développement, de l'industrie, du commerce et de la planification" [ LINK ]

References: Interview with a member of the parliament who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, there are regular reports.

Peer Review Comments: Yes.

40b: In practice, the committee acts in a non-partisan manner with members of opposition parties serving on the committee in an equitable fashion.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties in a roughly equitable distribution. All members of the committee -- including opposition party members -- are able to fully participate in the activities of the committee and influence the committee\'s work to roughly the same extent as any other member of the committee. 50 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties although the ruling party has a disproportionate share of committee seats. The chairperson of the committee may be overly influential and curb other members\' ability to shape the committee's activities. 0 Score Criteria: The committee is dominated by legislators of the ruling party and/or the committee chairperson. Opposition legislators serving on the committee have in practice no way to influence the work of the committee.$

Comments: Commission des affaires économiques, du développement, de l'industrie, du commerce et de la planification" [ LINK ]

References: Interview with a member of the parliament who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: The parliamentary financial commission includes the deputy of the opposition party.

Peer Review Comments: Yes.

40c: In practice, this committee is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: This committee operates independently of the political process, without incentive or pressure to render favorable judgments on politically sensitive issues. Investigations are rarely praised or criticized by political figures. 50 Score Criteria: This committee is usually independent but is sometimes influenced by negative or positive political incentives. This may include public praise or criticism by the government. 0 Score Criteria: This committee is commonly influenced by personal or political forces or incentives. This may include conflicting family relationships, professional partnerships, or other personal loyalties that ultimately influence the committee\'s behavior and decision-making. Negative incentives may include threats, harassment or other abuses of power by the government.$

Comments: Commission des affaires économiques, du développement, de l'industrie, du commerce et de la planification" [ LINK ]

References: Interview with a member of the parliament who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: This commission is in fact a political commission -- it is composed of deputies who defend the political positions of their party -- ruling or opposition.

Peer Review Comments: It is not entirely independent.

40d: In practice, when necessary, this committee initiates independent investigations into financial irregularities.

Score:

100

Comments: Commission des affaires économiques, du développement, de l'industrie, du commerce et de la planification" [ LINK ]

References: Interview with a member of the parliament who wishes to remain anonymous. Date: August 2007.

Peer Review Comments: This commission is dominated by the ruling party, so its effectiveness is really limited.

Peer Review Comments: It can according to the law.