Khleda Boufedach becomes the first woman elected as President of the Algerian National Assembly

Algeria’s People’s National Assembly elected Khalida Boufadja as its president on Tuesday, making her the first woman to hold the post since the country’s independence in 1962.

The National Liberation Front (FLN), which won a majority of seats in the July 2 elections (91 out of 407), nominated Boufadja for the position. She is one of 25 women elected to the Assembly, representing just 6.14 percent of its total membership.

The nomination was backed by parties close to the ruling establishment, including the National Democratic Rally (RND), the Future Front Party, and the Islamic Movement for Construction and Dialogue (MCE), as well as smaller parties and independent lawmakers.

Boufadja, an allergist by profession, defeated two opponents: Amin Allouche, nominated by the Islamist Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), and Rachid Hassani, the candidate of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD).

Boufadja, a prominent figure in the FLN, which led the country to independence, previously served as a local deputy in the municipality of Bordj El Bahri in the eastern suburbs of the capital, and as a member of the Wilaya People’s Assembly of the Algiers province.