President Abdelmadjid Tebboune addressed participants at the third international forum on the role of constitutional oversight in protecting rights and freedoms in Algeria and comparative systems on Tuesday. The President showed Algeria's commitment to constitutional justice, stating, "It pleases me to welcome you, and my country hosts this international legal forum, which has become an annual tradition reflecting the life of the Algerian constitutional judiciary, its openness to global experiences, and its endeavor to build bridges of scientific communication aimed at strengthening the edifice of constitutional justice."
President Tebboune further affirmed that the forum's convening represented "a renewal of the commitment we made to the Algerian people to build a state of law and order... That draws its spirit from the November 1, 1954 declaration." He added, "Since the historical turning point of the constitutional amendment in November 2020, we have committed ourselves to making the Constitutional Court a pillar of institutional stability and the core of genuine democracy." Tebboune concluded by noting that "the path of constitutional and legal reforms in our country is characterized by courage," citing a recent partial constitutional amendment as evidence of the constitution being "a living document that evolves with the nation."
Commitment to Rule of Law
The President's address was read by the President of the Constitutional Court, Leila Aslaoui. The speech outlined Algeria's commitment to establishing a state where fundamental rights are protected and freedoms are promoted as a core belief across all republican institutions. According to the address, this involves building a state where no individual is wronged. The commitment draws its spirit from the November 1, 1954 declaration. That foundational document, the speech stated, revived the Algerian state as a democratic and social entity. This vision shows the nation's ongoing efforts to solidify a rule of law framework.
Evolving Constitutional Framework
Since the constitutional amendment in November 2020, Algeria has aimed to establish the Constitutional Court as a foundational element of institutional stability and genuine democracy. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated, "Since the historical turning point of the constitutional amendment in November 2020, we have committed ourselves to making the Constitutional Court a pillar of institutional stability and the core of genuine democracy." The President also characterized the country's process of constitutional and legal reforms as courageous. A recent partial constitutional amendment specifically addressed articles that practical experience and field practice had identified as having shortcomings. This amendment was deemed necessary to ensure alignment with societal aspirations and to prevent interpretations that could hinder the effectiveness of constitutional institutions or impact the essence of freedoms. The government maintains that these ongoing changes demonstrate the constitution's nature as a living document that evolves with the nation rather than remaining static.
Forum's Significance and Tradition
The forum's convening represents a renewal of Algeria's commitment to establishing a state governed by law and order, according to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This commitment is based on the absolute sovereignty of the constitution and the supremacy of its provisions in safeguarding rights and freedoms. President Tebboune also noted that the international legal forum has become an annual tradition, reflecting the vitality of the Algerian constitutional judiciary. This tradition further demonstrates the judiciary's openness to global experiences and its efforts to foster scientific communication aimed at strengthening constitutional justice within the nation.