Algeria’s cabinet to consider province draft bill

The cabinet is expected to examine a province draft law on Monday as part of reforms announced by Algerian President Bouteflika.

• If the law is passed, it will stipulate to work within local governments formed of mayors and executive directors to found a non centralised system.
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• The draft bill includes articles about the creation of gatherings of neighbouring provinces in charge of mediation between the State and the province and coordinating public policies in provinces.
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• According to sources, the prime ministry speeded up the scheduling of the draft law after its deposit duration exceeded a year.
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• The law also stipulates the creation of provincial councils which would include provincial directors and be in charge of executing the government’s decisions and the provincial council’s deliberations.
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• Many provinces will be able to create a group to play a meditation role between the State and the province.
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• According to Article No 143, the creation of those groups is by virtue of a presidential decree based on a report from the Algerian interior minister.
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• Legislators consider those groups as a helping tool to solve common problems between contiguous provinces concerning local development.
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• Articles No 134 and 135 stipulate that provincial councils are supervised by prefects and may include mayors if they prefects summon them for participation.
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• The new provincial councils will enable prefects to play new roles. They will enjoy additional powers as they will represent local governments and be in charge of executing provincial popular assemblies’ deliberations.
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• Prefects’ main missions consist in preserving public order, managing exceptional situations, insuring the smooth running of public service and running local development.
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• The draft bill stipulates the setting up a provincial statute upon a presidential ordinance. Prefects are allowed to suspend any elected representative’s membership for a month following a wrongdoing.