Ban praises Algerian elections and greater representation of women

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated the people and the Government of Algeria for the peaceful conduct of legislative elections last week, and welcomed the increased representation of women in the new parliament, according to his spokesperson.

“The Secretary-General encourages the Government of Algeria and all political parties in the country to cooperate and work in an inclusive and peaceful manner to implement political and constitutional reforms and strengthen the democratic process in Algeria,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson added in a statement.

The Secretary-General had, at the request of the Algerian Government, sent a High-Level Panel to the North African country to observe the electoral process involved in choosing members of its People’s National Assembly and keep him abreast of developments.

According to media reports, Algeria's main ruling party, the National Liberation Front, won almost half of the seats in the 462-seat legislative body, with the National Democratic Rally reportedly finishing second.

The spokesperson said Mr. Ban reiterated the continued commitment of the United Nations to support Algeria’s efforts to achieve socio-economic development and democratic reforms.