Algerian Radio
The joint parliamentary committee held a meeting on Tuesday dedicated to reviewing the presentation by the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Lotfi Boudjemaa, on the draft law concerning the technical amendment of the Constitution, according to a joint press release from both chambers of Parliament.
As part of "the continuation of the work of the enlarged joint parliamentary committee and in application of the provisions of Presidential Decree 26-119 of March 19, 2026, the committee held a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, chaired by Mr. Rabah Baghali, dedicated to reviewing the presentation by the Government representative, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Lotfi Boudjemaa, on the draft law for the technical amendment of the Constitution. The meeting was attended by the committee's rapporteur, Fakhour Ibrahim, and the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Nadjiba Djilali," the same source added.
During the meeting, the Government representative delivered a comprehensive presentation on the draft law, which contains, "following an evaluation of the application of the 2020 Constitution, a complete set of technical amendments aimed at improving institutional efficiency and ensuring the continuity of the State." The draft law also proposes "introducing the requirement to prove a certain level of education to run for the office of President of the Republic, and organizing the constitutional swearing-in ceremony before both chambers of Parliament convened together (or the Council of the Nation in the event of a vacancy), with the reading of the oath entrusted to the First President of the Supreme Court to enshrine tradition and avoid any contradiction. It furthermore grants the President of the Republic the option to call early local elections to fill a constitutional void."
In the same framework, "the draft modifies the representation of wilayas in the Council of the Nation based on population size rather than equality, with transitional provisions for current members. It sets the mandate of the President of the Council of the Nation at six (6) years instead of three (3) years to ensure stability, and more flexibly schedules the opening of the parliamentary session in September without specifying an exact date. It also addresses legislative disagreements between the two chambers of Parliament by involving the Council of the Nation in the final decision when it concerns an area within its constitutional competence."
In the same context, the draft law proposes to "review the composition of the High Judicial Council (CSM), removing union representation and the President of the National Human Rights Council due to incompatibility, while integrating the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court to ensure consistency." According to Mr. Boudjemaa's presentation, this same draft law also modifies "the appointment system for specific judicial functions, so that it is carried out by presidential decree after consultation with the Council to avoid any contradiction." Regarding the National Independent Election Authority, it is proposed to "expand its oversight prerogatives and entrust material and logistical preparation to the administration." It also includes transitional provisions "guaranteeing the adaptation of institutions to the amendments within reasonable timeframes" and "governing the first partial renewal of half the elected members of the Council of the Nation in the event of the creation of new wilayas, by drawing lots, with the exception of the President of the Council, in order to ensure institutional continuity and the transmission of parliamentary experience between terms."
Following the presentation, a debate was opened among the members of the joint parliamentary committee, who "exchanged views and raised a number of concerns and questions to clarify certain aspects related to this draft law, thereby contributing to enriching the debate and ensuring its provisions comply with constitutional principles," before the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals took the floor to answer these questions and provide further clarifications. It is worth noting that the enlarged joint parliamentary committee is currently drafting its report on the draft law for the technical revision of the Constitution, ahead of its presentation on Wednesday for adoption before the Parliament convened in its two chambers.
