Algerian Radio
The Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic, Mr. Boualem Boualem, stated on Saturday in Algiers that the technical amendment to the Constitution constitutes a qualitative contribution capable of strengthening the efficiency of powers and constitutional institutions, while guaranteeing better protection of rights and freedoms.
In an address delivered during a national conference on the draft technical amendments to the Constitution and the organic law relating to the electoral system, Mr. Boualem specified that "the technical amendments previously announced by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, constitute a qualitative contribution aimed at strengthening the efficiency of powers and constitutional institutions and guaranteeing further protection of rights and freedoms."
In this context, the Chief of Staff of the Presidency reviewed the main democratic reforms introduced by the Constitution of November 1, 2020, initiated by the President of the Republic and endorsed by the Algerian people.
The constitutional amendment constitutes a tool responding to current requirements and changes, while the technical amendment of the Constitution "is an instrument of constitutional enablement aimed at filling constitutional gaps, with a view to addressing ambiguities or contradictions between texts that arise during their effective application," he specified.
Since the promulgation of the 2020 Constitution more than five years ago, as well as the completion of the resulting constitutional construction, Mr. Boualem added, "practice on the ground regarding the organization and functioning of certain constitutional institutions and public bodies has highlighted the need to improve certain purely technical aspects of constitutional provisions, relating notably to 10 points that are the subject of proposals open to debate."
For his part, the Acting President of the National Independent Authority for Elections (ANIE), Mr. Karim Khelfane, indicated that his body's experience has revealed the need to revise the provisions of the organic law relating to the electoral system in order to "improve the quality of its performance and that of its various partners in the electoral process, thereby strengthening constitutional gains."
He stressed that the technical amendments initiated by the President of the Republic regarding this text are "the result of difficulties and dysfunctions observed during the application on the ground of the various provisions of this organic law," as expressed by "political actors during electoral consultations and reported by ANIE in its various reports."
For his part, the Minister of Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, Mr. Saïd Sayoud, declared that, given the scope of the missions assigned to ANIE, "it has become necessary to revise the provisions of the organic law relating to the electoral system in force in order to strengthen the democratic electoral gain, while preserving the independence and the exercise of its prerogatives enshrined in the Constitution."
As for the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Mr. Lotfi Boudjemaa, he presented an overview of the main axes of the draft law relating to the electoral system, which includes "comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and ruling out dirty money."
He specified that the proposed amendments aim to remedy the "insufficiencies and dysfunctions" noted during previous electoral events, while entrusting the logistical aspect to the Ministry of the Interior, to allow ANIE to devote itself fully to its control and constitutional missions.
