البرلمان في الجزائر في فترة التعددية الحزبية: مدخل اصلاحي

Abstract

In democratic political systems, the people elect political institutions to represent them and express their collective will. Due to the diversity of opinions and plurality of ideologies, the existence of multiple political parties competing for power is inevitable. Within this context, the parliament emerges as one of the most important official governing institutions of the state, serving as the fundamental basis that consolidates the principle of popular sovereignty as the source of authority. It limits the concentration of power in the hands of a specific political group by ensuring participation in decision-making. Algeria witnessed a significant political transformation in the early 1990s, with the recognition of political pluralism being one of the most prominent outcomes of this change. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the parliamentary experience in Algeria during the period of party pluralism from a reformist perspective. It highlights the decline in the legitimacy of the Algerian parliament due to the diminished extent of its genuine representation of the popular will, its inability to exercise any authority, and its ineffectiveness in fulfilling its entrusted responsibilities. These issues stem from the fragility of political parties, their failure to engage in competitive dynamics, and their inability to produce effective alternatives. The study also seeks to emphasize the status of parliament in Algeria as a political institution and to propose ways to activate its role as an effective partner exercising real authority, consistent with the accelerating and endless changes in societal values. The study affirms that reforming the parliamentary institution in Algeria and enabling it to perform its sovereign role in legislation and oversight is closely connected to re-establishing a social contract between the state and society. This contract emerges from an inclusive dialogue among all parties and various components, including the public, diverse political currents, elites of authority, and civil society organizations, with the aim of constructing a pluralistic political environment that aligns with democratic values.