Parties Absent From Elections Face Dissolution: New Conditions For Conferences

The draft organic law on political parties includes strict conditions requiring political parties wishing to remain on the political map to participate in at least two consecutive elections or face dissolution.

The Interior Minister has the right to request a dissolution order within a period not exceeding 60 days.

The new draft, checked out by Echorouk, imposes stricter rules regarding financial funding. According to the legislator, it represents a profound reform based on the anti-corruption law, tightening control on political parties’ financing and resource management to enshrine transparency and combat all forms of corruption in political life.

The draft stipulates the adoption of a unified bank account for political parties, completely prohibiting cash transactions, and subjecting all financial resources to strict control, with legally prescribed penalties for any violations. This approach contrasts with the 2012 law, which allowed for less stringent financial control.

The draft law also included new conditions related to participation in elections, under penalty of dissolution. It linked a party’s continued existence on the political map to its actual participation in elections, with the possibility of dissolution through administrative courts if the party is absent from two consecutive elections. The Interior Minister was granted the authority to request a dissolution order within 60 days, unlike the current law, which allows for partial or temporary boycotts without immediate dissolution.

In a related development, the government revised its initial draft of the article concerning the establishment of committees within political parties, taking into account the observations and recommendations of the parties themselves. The mandatory stipulation for specific national committees was abandoned and replaced with a more flexible formulation that allows parties the freedom to establish permanent or temporary committees and define their powers within their internal regulations, thus strengthening the principle of organisational independence for political parties.

Among the most prominent points included in the draft law is a radical overhaul of the mechanisms for establishing political parties. A limited number of members or a presence in only a few wilayas is no longer sufficient for legal accreditation and recognition. The new draft stipulates that a party must be effectively represented in at least half of the country’s wilayas.

According to Article 31 of the draft, the constituent conference must be held in the national territory with the attendance of at least 600 delegates, elected during provincial conferences. These delegates must represent at least half plus one of the country’s wilayas, ensuring balanced representation for all regions and guaranteeing a quorum of women and youth.

The same article also stipulates that the number of delegates must be no less than 25 for each represented wilaya, with the state delegates to be elected by no fewer than 100 members in each wilaya. This must be documented in an official report drawn up by a court bailiff. Furthermore, the article requires the presence of more than half of the founding members to validate the constituent conference.

The draft prohibits the establishment of any political party, participation in its establishment, or involvement in its governing bodies, by any person who has been proven responsible for exploiting the nation’s constants that led to the national tragedy, or for exploiting religion, identity, or language, or who belongs to persons or entities listed on the national terrorism list.