last update 15/10/2016

Since the territorial restructuring of 1984, local and regional authorities have had several powers, laid down in law.
Article 77 of the Provincial Government Act specifies that "the people's wilaya (provincial) assembly exercises powers in the framework of the devolved powers allocated to the wilaya by laws and regulations; wilayas deal with:

• public health and protection of children and people requiring particular help;
• tourism;
• information and communication; 
• education, higher education and training;
• youth, sport and employment;
• housing, urban planning and the spatial planning of the wilaya;
• agriculture, water and forestry;
• trade, prices and transport;
• basic and economic infrastructure;
• inter-municipal solidarity to assist deprived municipalities requiring support;
• tangible, intangible and historical cultural assets;
• environmental protection;
• economic, social and cultural development;
• promotion of specific local potential."
  
  

This act provides for the possibility of the people’s provincial assembly setting up standing committees for matters coming under its remit, including those relating to:

• education, higher education and vocational training;
• the economy and finance;
• health, hygiene and environmental protection;
• communication and information technologies;
• spatial planning and transport;
• urban planning and housing;
• water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism;
• social, cultural, religious, sporting and youth affairs;
• local development, facilities, investment and jobs.
  

The people’s provincial assembly may also set up ad-hoc committees to examine any other issues relevant to the province.
 The 2011 municipal government act lists the powers of municipalities which cover, in particular, local development, urban planning, infrastructure, social measures, tourism, education, culture, and hygiene and sanitation.
According to Article 31 of the municipal government act, municipalities may themselves set up standing committees for matters coming under their remit, including those relating to:

• the economy, finance and investment;
• health, hygiene and environmental protection;
• spatial planning, urban planning, tourism and craft industries;
• water, agriculture and fisheries;
• social, cultural, sporting and youth affairs;
  

The number of standing committees is as follows:

• three (3) committees for municipalities with 20 000 inhabitants or less; 
• four (4) committees for municipalities with between 20 001 and 50 000 inhabitants;
• five (5) committees for municipalities with between 50 001 and 100 000 inhabitants;
• six (6) committees for municipalities with more than 100 000 inhabitants.
  

Generally, in terms of economic policy and international relations, political action takes place at central government level.
In budgetary matters, the territorial communities have the powers conferred on them by law.
In particular, the province has its own budget to finance the following measures:

• local development and assistance for municipalities;
• meeting running costs;
• maintaining and promoting its heritage.
  

The municipalities are financed mainly through local taxes and state subsidies.

1.1. Central level

The central level holds legislative power. Parliament consists of two chambers: the National People’s Assembly, consisting of 462 directly elected representatives every 5 years, and the Council of the Nation, consisting of 144 seats, one third of which is appointed by the President, and the other two thirds indirectly elected by simple majority vote by an electoral college composed of local council members every 6 years with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years. The next elections for both chambers will be held in 2017.[1]

Economic policy is managed at national level by the Ministry of Finance, whose executive decree (No 07-364 of 28 November 2007) governs the way in which the administration is organised[2].

According to Article 122 of the Constitution (2016), the national parliament has legislative power in the following areas:
 

• Fundamental rights
• Personal status and family law
• Nationality and aliens
• Criminal law
• Civil and administrative law
• Territorial division of the country
• Budget
• Taxation
• Banks and finance
• Education and science
• Public health
• Labour law, social security
• Environment
• Culture
• Forests
• Water
• Mining
• Land tenure
• Civil service
• National defence
• Public and private ownership
  
  

1.2. Regional level

There are 48 provinces (wilayas) in Algeria.[3] The provinces have limited budgetary and policy-making powers, including measures relating to the promotion and development of infrastructure for hosting activities[4].

1.3. Local level

While municipalities have wide responsibilities, giving them policy-making power in theory, in practice, the rather limited budgetary powers render these policy-making powers meaningless. [5]
The municipal people’s assembly decides, following discussion, on capital expenditure for investment to provide local authorities with equity funds.
A project aimed at exploring ways to decentralise power in Algeria to the waliya level funded by the EU is expected to launch soon.[6]

Currently, LRAs in Algeria are prohibited by law from independently seeking out or receiving external funding of any kind. [7]



[1] https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html

[2] Consult the official website at the following address: http://www.mf.gov.dz (FR).

[3] https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html

[4] See Algeria's country profile drawn up by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Global Observatory on Local Democracy and Decentralisation (GOLD), available via the following link: www.cities-localgovernments.org/gold/country_profile.asp (EN), p. VI.

[5] See Algeria's country profile drawn up by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Global Observatory on Local Democracy and Decentralisation (GOLD), available via the following link: www.cities-localgovernments.org/gold/country_profile.asp (EN), p. VI.

[6] Committee of the Regions. New Approach to European Neighbourhood Policy.

[7] Committee of the Regions. New Approach to European Neighbourhood Policy.​