Abdelaziz Belkhadem
Encyclopedia
Abdelaziz Belkhadem (born November 8, 1945) is an Algerian politician who is the Minister of State, Personal Representative of the Head of State. He previously served as Prime Minister of Algeria
from 2006 to 2008. He is the Secretary-General of the National Liberation Front
(FLN).
Belkhadem was born in Aflou
, Laghouat Province
, Algeria
. A graduate in literature and economics, he began his professional life in 1964 as a financial inspector and later was a professor of Arabic literature. In 1972, President Houari Boumédiène
appointed him as Deputy Director of International Relations at the Presidency, and he held that post until 1977.
As an FLN candidate, Belkhadem was elected to the People's National Assembly
(APN) in 1977 from Sougueur
in Tiaret, and was re-elected as a deputy from Sougueur
in 1982 and 1987. During his time as a deputy, he was rapporteur
of the APN's Planning and Finance Committee before being elected as President of the Education, Training, and Scientific Research Committee in 1987. He was Vice-President of the APN from 1988 to 1990 and President of the APN from October 1990 to 1992. Belkhadem was a member of the Political Bureau of the FLN from 1991 to 1997. Later, he was Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs from July 2000 to May 2005, and then Minister of State and personal representative of the Head of State (President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
) from May 2005 to May 2006. He was appointed as Prime Minister on May 24, 2006, replacing Ahmed Ouyahia
.
One of two bombings
in Algiers
on April 11, 2007 struck near Belkhadem's office. He was not harmed in the attack and condemned the bombings as "criminal and cowardly". At least 23 people were reported killed in the two bombings.
Following the May 2007 parliamentary election, Belkhadem presented the resignation of his government, as expected, and this was accepted by President Bouteflika on June 1. Belkhadem remained in office in a caretaker capacity, along with 11 ministers; the remaining 15, who won parliamentary seats in the election, were required to choose between those seats and their positions as ministers. Bouteflika reappointed Belkhadem as Prime Minister in a new government on June 4.
Bouteflika appointed Ouyahia as Prime Minister on June 23, 2008, replacing Belkhadem, who was instead appointed as Bouteflika's personal representative.
Prime Minister of Algeria
The Prime Minister is the head of government of Algeria.The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Algeria, along with other ministers and members of the government that the new Prime Minister recommends. The People's National Assembly must approve the legislative program of the new...
from 2006 to 2008. He is the Secretary-General of the National Liberation Front
National Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
(FLN).
Belkhadem was born in Aflou
Aflou
Aflou is a town and commune in Laghouat Province, Algeria. It is located around . It is located in the Saharan Atlas, in the elevation of about 1400 m. It is the capital of Aflou District. Its population in 1998 was 48,000....
, Laghouat Province
Laghouat Province
Laghouat is a province in central Algeria. The name means "the oases". The capital is Laghouat. Other localities include Aflou, Ain Madhi, Kourdane and Makhareg.-Administrative division:...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. A graduate in literature and economics, he began his professional life in 1964 as a financial inspector and later was a professor of Arabic literature. In 1972, President Houari Boumédiène
Houari Boumediene
Houari Boumedienne served as Algeria's Chairman of the Revolutionary Council from 19 June 1965 until 12 December 1976, and from then on as the fourth President of Algeria to his death on 27 December 1978.- Background :Mohamed Ben Brahim Boukharouba was born near Héliopolis in the province of...
appointed him as Deputy Director of International Relations at the Presidency, and he held that post until 1977.
As an FLN candidate, Belkhadem was elected to the People's National Assembly
People's National Assembly
The People's National Assembly is the lower house of the Algerian Parliament. It is composed of 380 members directly elected by the population....
(APN) in 1977 from Sougueur
Sougueur
Sougueur is a town and commune in Tiaret Province in northwestern Algeria....
in Tiaret, and was re-elected as a deputy from Sougueur
Sougueur
Sougueur is a town and commune in Tiaret Province in northwestern Algeria....
in 1982 and 1987. During his time as a deputy, he was rapporteur
Rapporteur
Rapporteur is used in international and European legal and political contexts to refer to a person appointed by a deliberative body to investigate an issue or a situation....
of the APN's Planning and Finance Committee before being elected as President of the Education, Training, and Scientific Research Committee in 1987. He was Vice-President of the APN from 1988 to 1990 and President of the APN from October 1990 to 1992. Belkhadem was a member of the Political Bureau of the FLN from 1991 to 1997. Later, he was Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs from July 2000 to May 2005, and then Minister of State and personal representative of the Head of State (President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is the ninth President of Algeria. He has been in office since 1999. He continued emergency rule until 24 February 2011, and presided over the end of the bloody Algerian Civil War in 2002...
) from May 2005 to May 2006. He was appointed as Prime Minister on May 24, 2006, replacing Ahmed Ouyahia
Ahmed Ouyahia
Ahmed Ouyahia is an Algerian politician who has been Prime Minister of Algeria since June 2008. He was previously Prime Minister from 1995 to 1998 and from 2003 to 2006. A career diplomat, he also served as Minister of Justice, and was one of the founders and a president of the RND party...
.
One of two bombings
11 April 2007 Algiers bombings
The 2007 Algiers bombings occurred on April 11, 2007 when two suicide car bombs exploded in the Algerian capital Algiers.The headquarters of the Algerian prime minister were hit by a large explosion that left many people dead and injured and could be heard 10 km away...
in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
on April 11, 2007 struck near Belkhadem's office. He was not harmed in the attack and condemned the bombings as "criminal and cowardly". At least 23 people were reported killed in the two bombings.
Following the May 2007 parliamentary election, Belkhadem presented the resignation of his government, as expected, and this was accepted by President Bouteflika on June 1. Belkhadem remained in office in a caretaker capacity, along with 11 ministers; the remaining 15, who won parliamentary seats in the election, were required to choose between those seats and their positions as ministers. Bouteflika reappointed Belkhadem as Prime Minister in a new government on June 4.
Bouteflika appointed Ouyahia as Prime Minister on June 23, 2008, replacing Belkhadem, who was instead appointed as Bouteflika's personal representative.