Algeria has elected Khalida Boufedeche as the first woman to lead its parliament, a historic milestone in a country where women’s political representation has long lagged behind regional peers.
The 58-year-old lawmaker, a member of the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN), was chosen by MPs in a vote at the National People’s Assembly in Algiers. Boufedeche, a former health minister and experienced parliamentarian, has served in the assembly since 2012 and previously held senior roles in health policy and social affairs.
The move is being seen as both symbolic and practical. While Algeria has had women in cabinet positions and local government, the speaker’s role is one of the most visible in the political system, presiding over debates, setting the legislative agenda and representing the assembly at home and abroad.
Women’s rights advocates say the election could encourage more female participation in politics, though they caution that real change will depend on whether more women are given meaningful roles beyond token appointments. Algeria’s parliament has one of the lower rates of female representation in North Africa, with women holding around 9% of seats.
Critics point out that the parliament’s powers remain limited in Algeria’s presidential system, and that real political influence still rests with the executive. For now, the election stands as a landmark for Algerian women in politics, and a signal that the country’s leadership is willing to break some long-standing barriers.
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