Several mayors and local and national elected officials from Tizi Ouzou province held a sit-in at the wilaya's administrative headquarters. They called for more equitable distribution of budgets and subsidies nationwide. The officials expressed concerns about the development of their respective communes, citing insufficient allocated funds and restrictive budgetary measures. They also highlighted the lack of transparency in budget allocation and the limitations on their powers.
The elected officials criticized the meager budget allocations for their communes, citing an example of 15 million Algerian dinars (DA) per commune in the 2020 Public Communal Development Plan (PCD). They argued that this amount is insufficient to address the urgent needs of a single village, given the region's long-standing underdevelopment. They also noted that their communes are excluded from equipment subsidies provided by the Caisse de solidarité et de garantie des collectivités locales (CSGCL).
The mayor of Ath Aïssi, representing the Coordination of Mayors, expressed gratitude to the elected officials present at the sit-in. He emphasized the need to address the significant disparities in budget allocations between communes, citing examples of vastly different PCD allocations. For instance, he mentioned that Tébessa received 270 billion DA for 28 communes in 2019, while Chlef received 750 billion DA for 35 communes.
The elected officials also highlighted issues related to the status of mayors and elected officials, as well as the limitations on their powers. They emphasized the need for greater transparency and democracy at all levels of governance. Mohamed Klaleche, a deputy from Tizi Ouzou, stressed that the commune is supposed to be the basic unit of the state but is currently underfunded and restricted by bureaucratic procedures.
In a press conference, the Coordination of Mayors responded to questions from local journalists. They confirmed that the administration often violates the communal code, with mayors having limited authority over security services and being excluded from budget allocation decisions. The officials emphasized the need for greater democracy and participation in governance.
The elected officials plan to discuss ways to advance their demands, including the possibility of forming a national coordination of elected officials. They also intend to address issues related to budget consumption, sectoral projects, and administrative obstacles. The sit-in was seen as a crucial step towards achieving greater equity and transparency in budget allocation.
The protest highlights the ongoing challenges faced by local communes in Algeria, particularly in terms of funding and administrative support. The elected officials' demands for greater equity and transparency reflect the need for more effective governance and resource allocation at the local level. The outcome of their efforts remains to be seen.
Key points
- Elected officials in Tizi Ouzou province demand greater equity and transparency in national budget distribution.
- The officials criticize the restrictive budgetary measures and insufficient allocated funds for their communes.
- The protest highlights the need for more effective governance and resource allocation at the local level in Algeria.
