A historic building in Africa featuring flags, pedestrians, and city infrastructure.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has scheduled parliamentary elections for July 2, following constitutional amendments that expanded some of his executive powers. The changes empower the interior and foreign ministries to organize elections, diluting independent watchdogs. The amendments also strip parliament of its ability to appoint representatives to the High Judiciary Council, an institution designed to protect judicial independence. These changes help Tebboune consolidate control of the nation’s electoral and judicial systems. In contrast, they deprive judges and pro-democracy activists of vital institutional power and oversight capabilities. Tebboune was first elected in 2019 amid mass protests demanding democratic reforms and an end to corruption. However, these moves threaten to dismantle the democratic progress sought during those protests and cement Algeria’s authoritarian trajectory.
Bloomberg