Algeria Elects First Female Parliament Speaker in Historic Vote

Algeria has elected its first-ever female Speaker of Parliament, making Khalida Boufedeche the fourth-highest ranking official in the country.

Boufedeche was elected by parliament on Tuesday evening.

She is an allergist by profession and represents the capital, Algiers. She is also a member of the National Liberation Front (FLN), the historic party that led Algeria’s fight for independence and is allied with the current government.

The FLN emerged as the largest party in the recent parliamentary elections, winning 91 of the 407 seats in parliament.

The elections recorded the country’s lowest voter turnout on record, with only 21 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots.

Before entering parliament, Boufedeche served in local politics and is also a member of the FLN’s central committee.

She takes over as Speaker at a time when women remain underrepresented in Algeria’s parliament.

Women currently hold only 25 of the 407 seats, representing about six percent of the legislature.

The previous parliament had 38 female members, while the parliament elected in 2017 had 118 women following elections held under a quota system.