Algerian legislature approves controversial term limit amendment

2008-11-13

The Algerian Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of President Bouteflika's proposed constitutional amendments on Wednesday. The changes will allow Bouteflika to run for a third term in April 2009.

By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 13/11/08

[Said Jameh] Algerian's parliament approves constitutional amendments, one of which would permit a third term for President Bouteflika.

The Algerian Parliament voted 500-21 on Wednesday (November 12th) in favour of a bill to amend the constitution proposed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Positions among Algeria's political class differ on the issue; some believe the amendments will enhance democracy while others oppose them, saying they were conceived merely to pave the way for a third term for President Bouteflika in the April 2009 elections.

MPs from both chambers of parliament met in the morning at the Palais des Nations at Club des Pins in the western suburbs of the capital to vote on the controversial bill.

The final vote showed 500 deputies in favour of the amendments, with 21 deputies representing the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) voting against them. Meanwhile, 8 deputies representing Islamist parties Ennahda and El Islah abstained.

With the new amendments, Algeria officially embraces a semi-presidential system that affords the President broader powers.

The changes will permit President Abdelaziz Bouteflika the right to run for a third term, a move that is forbidden under Article 74 of the 1996 Constitution.

Under the new amendment, the position of "Head of Government" currently occupied by Ahmed Ouyahia will be formally renamed to "Prime Minister". This position will also be appointed by the president. The prime minister may have one or more deputies.

Ouyahia told the press after the vote on Wednesday that he will offer his resignation to President Bouteflika once the new amendments enter into force. "The post of head of government will no longer exist after the promulgation of the amendments to the constitution," he said.

Asked whether he expects to occupy the new position, Ouyahia said that only the president is empowered to take that decision.

Additional amendments concern protection of the national flag and anthem and place a ban on attacks against the symbols of the Algerian Revolution, such as raising doubts over the number of martyrs or mujahideen. Also included is a quota for the representation of women in political parties. The specifics of the quota will be determined later, through a law issued in the elected local and national councils.

In his first reaction to the parliamentary vote, President Bouteflika praised the deputies for their support of the amendments he proposed.

"These amendments will further contribute to the enhancement of democracy in the country by enabling the Algerian people to choose their president freely," he said.

He defended the amendment to Article 74 of the Constitution, saying that Algeria "has not invented anything new by opening the way for anyone to run for more than one presidential term".

Nevertheless, the president defended the parties who voted against the amendments, calling their opposition "a democratic act that is part of the guaranteed democratic practices of the country."

Abdelkader Ben Saleh, speaker of Algeria's upper house, called the vote "a great and remarkable victory for the Algerian people".

The RCD emphasised their rejection of the bill by walking out of the conference hall before the conclusion of the vote.

"Through this amendment, President Bouteflika has violated the constitution and has reversed one of the democratic gains, which is the rotation of power as enshrined in the 1996 constitution," said RCD Secretary-General Said Saadi in reference to Article 74.

He criticised Ennahda and El Islah for abstaining rather than voting against the bill. The two parties opposed President Bouteflika's decision to pass the amendment through Parliament rather than by popular referendum.

MP Ali Hafdellah of Ennahda said that the amendment will not satisfy "the people's hopes to build a plural democratic system that protects individual and collective rights and political and cultural freedoms."

However, Aboudjerra Soltani of the Movement of Society for Peace defended the bill. "The amendment introduced major reforms that will serve Algerians and democracy," he said.

He added that Bouteflika's decision to go through Parliament instead of holding a referendum is permitted under Article 176 of the constitution.

Labour Party Secretary-General Louisa Hanoune welcomed the amendments, particularly the one guaranteeing greater participation for women in politics.