Commission For Monitoring Elections Installed

Algeria has made the first official step towards parliamentary elections in May 10, held to be one of the most important in the country’s history.

The commission is a vast body (with 316 members, all of whom belong to the judiciary) tasked with ensuring the regularity of every phase of the process, which will culminate in the May 10 elections, from the presentation of candidatures to the announcement of the ballot count.

The powers assigned to the commission – strongly wanted by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika – are wide-ranging and act as a guarantee, since it will be, unquestionably, be able to decide everything deemed necessary to make sure that the election campaign and the voting are held at the highest possible level of fairness.

This was the request made especially by parties (eight more have been authorised) who do not see themselves as being represented in the majority currently governing the country. The magistrates called on to take part are mostly from the Supreme Court and the State Council, as well as members from other jurisdictions.

President Bouteflika himself is certain of the appropriateness of the choice to set up the commission, and therefore the political opportunity it represents.