Khalida Boufedeche has been elected Speaker of Algeria’s National People’s Assembly, becoming the first woman in the country’s history to hold the position.
She represents the capital, Algiers, in Parliament and now becomes one of Algeria’s most senior political leaders, ranking as the country’s fourth-highest state official.
A member of the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN), Boufedeche belongs to the party that played a leading role in Algeria’s struggle for independence.
The FLN won the parliamentary elections held earlier this month, securing 91 of the 407 seats in the National People’s Assembly. However, the vote was marked by historically low turnout, with only 21% of eligible voters participating—the lowest electoral turnout in the country’s history.
Before joining Parliament, Boufedeche was active in local politics and later became a member of the FLN’s Central Committee.
Her election comes at a time when women remain significantly underrepresented in Algeria’s legislature. Women currently hold just 25 of the 407 parliamentary seats, representing about 6% of the chamber.
Khalida Boufedeche’s appointment marks a historic milestone and makes her one of the few women to occupy one of Algeria’s highest-ranking positions in government.
