National Rally for Democracy (Algeria)
National Rally for Democracy | |
|---|---|
.png){kind=logo} | |
| Secretary-General | Ahmed Ouyahia |
| Founded | 21 February 1997 |
| Headquarters | Les Asphodèles 10, Ben Aknoun, Algiers |
| Youth wing | RND Youth |
| Ideology |
Liberalism[1] Islamic democracy |
| Political position | Centre |
| International affiliation | Centrist Democrat International |
| Colors |
Green, Red |
| People's National Assembly |
68 / 462 |
| Website | |
|
www | |
The National Rally for Democracy (Arabic: التجمع الوطني الديمقراطي, French: Rassemblement National Démocratique, thus RND) is a political party in Algeria. It is led by former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia. The party held its Second Congress on 15–17 May 2003.[2]
The RND was founded on 21 February 1997 in the midst of the Algerian Civil War for supporters of Liamine Zéroual, former head of ground forces of the Algerian military who had been elected president less than two years earlier (16 November 1995). Zéroual had run as an independent and won 60% of votes cast. In the Algerian Parliamentary elections held on 5 June 1997 the NRD received more votes than any other party 156 out of 380 seats. In the next parliamentary elections five years later it came in third polling only 9.5% of the vote, winning 47 of 380 seats in the Algerian Parliament. In the 2007 election it obtained 10.33% of the vote and 61 seats out of the 389 seats. It is part of the presidential alliance, a three party political alliance created in 2005, the other two parties being the former single legal party, National Liberation Front (FLN) and the Movement for the Society of Peace (Hamas).
It stated position is support for political pluralism, democracy, and the rotation of power, though it has been loyal to the current President of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and supported his (successful) change to the Algerian constitution allowing him to seek (and win) a third term in office.[3]
The Georgetown University Berkley Center describes the RND as having "replaced" the FLN as the Algerian "state party" temporarily for the 1995 and 1997 elections "after the FLN was defeated by the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the 1991-1992 national legislative elections". That election was canceled by a military coup and the civil war that followed killed as many 200,000 Algerians,[4] but once the Islamist insurgents were pacified to a large degree, the "FLN regained its place as the majority and ruling party".[3]
RND Secretary-General Ahmed Ouyahia was appointed as prime minister on 23 June 2008.[5]
References
- ↑ "Strengthening co-operation with the Maghreb countries", Doc. 11474, Documents: Working papers, 2008 Ordinary Session (First part), 21–25 January 2008, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, vol. II, p. 66.
- ↑ "RND - Historique", RND website, 10 October 2006 (French).
- 1 2 "National Rally for Democracy (RND)". Berkley Center. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ↑ Ajami, Fouad (January 27, 2010). "The Furrows of Algeria". New Republic. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "Ahmed Ouyahia Secrétaire Général du RND Chef du Gouvernement", RND website, 24 June 2008 (French).
