20 parties compete for 96 seats in Algeria

552 candidates applied to participate in the election of the Algerian National Council (the parliament) which is due to be held through indirect balloting on Dec. 25.

The candidates are competing for 96 seats which represent two thirds of the total number of the seats, while the Algerian President Zeroual will appoint the remaining one third comprising 48 seats. The ruling Democratic National Tagamoua (Gathering) will participate with 251 candidates followed by the National Liberation Front which will have 165 candidates, while the Peaceful Society Movement has 57 candidates.

El Nahda (Renaissance) Movement will run this election with 30 candidates while there will be 21 independent candidates. The Gathering for Culture and Democracy party will participate with 11 candidates, the Socialist Powers Front will have 5 candidates, the Liberal Party will have 3 candidates in addition to 6 parties participating with one candidate each. Members of the Nation's Council are elected each 6 years, half of the total number will be elected after 3 years.

The Nation's Council election represents a step in the renovation of the Algerian government bodies which had started with Presidential election which brought President Zeroual to office in 1995, followed by the Legislative Election in June 1997, and the Provincial Election last October.