Algeria Elects Khalida Boufedeche as First Woman Parliament Speaker
Algeria has made political history after its parliament elected Khalida Boufedeche as its first-ever female speaker, placing her among the country’s highest-ranking officials.
Boufedeche was elected on Tuesday evening as president of Algeria’s National People’s Assembly, becoming the fourth-highest official in the country. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for women’s representation in Algerian politics.
A trained allergist, Boufedeche represents the capital city, Algiers, and is a member of the National Liberation Front (FLN), the historic political party that led Algeria’s independence struggle and remains closely linked to the current government.
The FLN emerged as the largest party in Algeria’s recent parliamentary elections, winning 91 seats out of the 407-member assembly. However, the election recorded the lowest voter turnout in the country’s history, with only 21 percent of eligible voters participating.
Before joining parliament, Boufedeche built experience in local politics and later became a member of the FLN’s central committee. Her rise to the speakership reflects a growing push for greater inclusion of women in leadership positions.
Despite her historic achievement, women remain significantly underrepresented in Algeria’s parliament. Only 25 women currently hold seats in the 407-member assembly, representing just six percent of lawmakers.
The number marks a decline compared with previous years. The former parliament had 38 female members, while the legislature elected after the 2017 elections included 118 women due to a quota system introduced to increase female participation in politics.
Boufedeche’s election comes at a time when Algeria continues to debate political reforms and representation within government institutions. Supporters say her appointment represents progress toward gender equality, while critics point to the continued low number of women serving in elected positions.
Her new role places her at the centre of Algeria’s legislative process, where she will oversee parliamentary discussions, debates and the work of lawmakers.
As the first woman to hold the position, Boufedeche’s leadership will likely be closely watched both nationally and internationally. Her appointment is being seen as an important moment in Algeria’s political history and a symbol of changing attitudes toward women’s participation in public life.
While challenges remain in achieving equal representation, Boufedeche’s election has opened a new chapter for Algerian politics and could encourage more women to pursue leadership roles in the country’s institutions.
