Louisa Hanoune
Encyclopedia
Louisa Hanoune (born 7 April 1954 in Chekfa
, Jijel Province
) is the head of Algeria
's Workers' Party
(Parti des Travailleurs, PT). In 2004, she became the first woman to run for President of Algeria
. Hanoune was imprisoned by the government several times prior to the legalization of political parties
in 1988. She was jailed soon after she joined the Trotskyist
Social Workers Organisation, an illegal party, in 1981 and again after the 1988 October Riots
, which brought about the end of the National Liberation Front
's (FLN) single-party rule. During Algeria's civil war
of the 1990s, Hanoune was one of the few opposition
voices in parliament
, and, despite her party's secularist values, a strong opponent of the government's "eradication" policy toward Islamists
. In January 1995, she signed the Sant'Egidio Platform
together with representatives of other opposition parties, notably the Islamic Salvation Front
, the radical Islamist party whose dissolution by military decree brought about the start of the civil war.
, Jijel Province
, and she fled with her family to the city of Annaba
, after her parent’s home was bombed by the French army
during the Algerian War of Independence
(1954–1962). She was the first woman of her family to go to school. With Algeria's free and compulsory education system
, Hanoune completed secondary school and went on to obtain her Bachelor's Degree
before joining the air transport sector. Hanoune studied law at the University of Annaba, a decision which was opposed by her father. She has stated that “It is this right to education which will completely change the position, the representation of women in our society and of which I am partly a product."
, Algeria adopted a pluralist system
in 1989. This led to Hanoune creating the Workers' Party. The Workers' Party was founded in 1990 by writ of the Socialist Workers Organization. Their main platform concerns the class struggle
between the workers or "exploited classes" and the owners or "oppressors". It is an independent party which supports the Algerian national movement. Hanoune was the leader and spokesperson of the party since its inception and was elected Secretary General of the party in October 2005. In 2007, there were 23 parties contesting elections in Algeria.
She is known for having denounced the dissolution of the Islamic Salvation Front
, being outspoken in favor of reconciliation and, along with other parties, signed the Sant'Egidio platform
"for a political solution to the Algerian crisis." During the period of newly independent Algeria, Hanoune formed her political ideals: “The whole country was still pulsing from the war of liberation
, everybody was talking about socialism, of justice, of progress. Algeria was at the height of its anti-imperialist battle... we were completely united with the Palestinians, their cause was also ours. We were against apartheid in South Africa
, we talked about Vietnam, I grew up like all my generation in this militant atmosphere, of struggle.”
. She ran as a candidate in the Algerian presidential elections of 2004 and 2009. She became the first female candidate to seek office during the Algerian presidential election of 2004
. This event was not only a first in Algeria but in the entire Arab world. Only six candidates were recognized by the constitutional council.
Hanoune was one of eleven candidates who nominated for the 2009 Algerian presidential election
. Her platform included defending the principle of national sovereignty and denouncing the policy of liberalization and privatization of public enterprises. She won 4.22% of the vote, coming second out of six candidates, as President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
won a third term with 90.24% of the votes cast in an election which was denounced as fraudulent.
In March 2010, Haroune joined other women's-rights activists in calling for repeal of Algeria's Family Code on grounds of its failure to provide adequate protection for females.
In February 2011, she criticised a February 12 anti-Bouteflika demonstration in Algiers
as social manipulation—"trying to manipulate the social discontent, which is real, to divert it in the service of imperialism"—and prescribed
/World Bank
consultant Ahmed Benbitour
. Her editorial message called on "activists, members and supporters to form popular committees ... to establish their demands through free discussion, and [press for] exclusively national, Algerian solutions."
Chekfa
Chekfa is a town and commune in Jijel Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 25,187.-References:...
, Jijel Province
Jijel Province
Jijel is a province in Algeria in the eastern Mediterranean cost. The capital is Jijel . Taza National Park is there.-Administrative divisions:...
) is the head of 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...
's Workers' Party
Workers' Party (Algeria)
The Workers' Party is a Trotskyist political party in Algeria, closely linked with the Workers' Party of France. The party is led by Louisa Hanoune....
(Parti des Travailleurs, PT). In 2004, she became the first woman to run for President of Algeria
President of Algeria
The President of Algeria is the head of state and chief executive of Algeria, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Algerian armed forces.-History of the office:...
. Hanoune was imprisoned by the government several times prior to the legalization of political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in 1988. She was jailed soon after she joined the Trotskyist
Trotskyism
Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
Social Workers Organisation, an illegal party, in 1981 and again after the 1988 October Riots
1988 October Riots
The 1988 October Riots were a series of street-level disturbances and riotous demonstrations by Algerian youth, in the autumn of 1988, which indirectly led to the fall of the country's single-party system and the introduction of democratic reform, but also to a spiral of instability and...
, which brought about the end 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 :...
's (FLN) single-party rule. During Algeria's civil war
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
of the 1990s, Hanoune was one of the few opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
voices in parliament
Parliament of Algeria
The Parliament of Algeria consists of two chambers:*The Council of the Nation *The People's National Assembly...
, and, despite her party's secularist values, a strong opponent of the government's "eradication" policy toward Islamists
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
. In January 1995, she signed the Sant'Egidio Platform
Sant'Egidio platform
The Sant'Egidio Platform of January 13, 1995 was an attempt by most of the major Algerian opposition parties to put an end to the Algerian Civil War, which had begun in 1992 as a military coup d'état overturned election results that would have brought the Islamic Salvation Front , an Islamic party,...
together with representatives of other opposition parties, notably the Islamic Salvation Front
Islamic Salvation Front
The Islamic Salvation Front is an outlawed Islamist political party in Algeria.-Goals:...
, the radical Islamist party whose dissolution by military decree brought about the start of the civil war.
Early life
Her parents were mountain peasants from ChekfaChekfa
Chekfa is a town and commune in Jijel Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 25,187.-References:...
, Jijel Province
Jijel Province
Jijel is a province in Algeria in the eastern Mediterranean cost. The capital is Jijel . Taza National Park is there.-Administrative divisions:...
, and she fled with her family to the city of Annaba
Annaba
Annaba is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse. It is located in Annaba Province. With a population of 257,359 , it is the fourth largest city in Algeria. It is a leading industrial centre in eastern Algeria....
, after her parent’s home was bombed by the French army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
during the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
(1954–1962). She was the first woman of her family to go to school. With Algeria's free and compulsory education system
Education in Algeria
Education in Algeria is free and officially compulsory for Algerians up to age 17, but actual enrollment falls far short of 100 percent. Enrollment drops off sharply from primary to secondary school. In fact, only about half the eligible population is enrolled in secondary school, which consists of...
, Hanoune completed secondary school and went on to obtain her Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
before joining the air transport sector. Hanoune studied law at the University of Annaba, a decision which was opposed by her father. She has stated that “It is this right to education which will completely change the position, the representation of women in our society and of which I am partly a product."
Workers' Party
Subsequent to the riots of 19881988 October Riots
The 1988 October Riots were a series of street-level disturbances and riotous demonstrations by Algerian youth, in the autumn of 1988, which indirectly led to the fall of the country's single-party system and the introduction of democratic reform, but also to a spiral of instability and...
, Algeria adopted a pluralist system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
in 1989. This led to Hanoune creating the Workers' Party. The Workers' Party was founded in 1990 by writ of the Socialist Workers Organization. Their main platform concerns the class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
between the workers or "exploited classes" and the owners or "oppressors". It is an independent party which supports the Algerian national movement. Hanoune was the leader and spokesperson of the party since its inception and was elected Secretary General of the party in October 2005. In 2007, there were 23 parties contesting elections in Algeria.
She is known for having denounced the dissolution of the Islamic Salvation Front
Islamic Salvation Front
The Islamic Salvation Front is an outlawed Islamist political party in Algeria.-Goals:...
, being outspoken in favor of reconciliation and, along with other parties, signed the Sant'Egidio platform
Sant'Egidio platform
The Sant'Egidio Platform of January 13, 1995 was an attempt by most of the major Algerian opposition parties to put an end to the Algerian Civil War, which had begun in 1992 as a military coup d'état overturned election results that would have brought the Islamic Salvation Front , an Islamic party,...
"for a political solution to the Algerian crisis." During the period of newly independent Algeria, Hanoune formed her political ideals: “The whole country was still pulsing from the war of liberation
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
, everybody was talking about socialism, of justice, of progress. Algeria was at the height of its anti-imperialist battle... we were completely united with the Palestinians, their cause was also ours. We were against apartheid in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, we talked about Vietnam, I grew up like all my generation in this militant atmosphere, of struggle.”
Presidential campaigns
Her first bid for the 1999 presidential election was rejected by the Constitutional CouncilConstitutional Council
Constitutional Council might refer to:* Constitutional Council of Chad* Constitutional Council of France* Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan* Constitutional Council of Lebanon* Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka...
. She ran as a candidate in the Algerian presidential elections of 2004 and 2009. She became the first female candidate to seek office during the Algerian presidential election of 2004
Algerian presidential election, 2004
Presidential elections were held in Algeria on April 8, 2004. The incumbent president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was re-elected with 85.0 percent of the vote.-Candidates:*Ali Benflis: candidate of the Front for National Liberation...
. This event was not only a first in Algeria but in the entire Arab world. Only six candidates were recognized by the constitutional council.
Hanoune was one of eleven candidates who nominated for the 2009 Algerian presidential election
Algerian presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Algeria on 9 April 2009. It was described in a US Embassy in Algiers cable as "carefully choreographed and heavily controlled", with the official turnout figure "exaggerated".- Removal of term limit :...
. Her platform included defending the principle of national sovereignty and denouncing the policy of liberalization and privatization of public enterprises. She won 4.22% of the vote, coming second out of six candidates, as 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...
won a third term with 90.24% of the votes cast in an election which was denounced as fraudulent.
Other activities
At the international level, Louisa Hanoune was a founding member of the International Workers and Peoples in January 1991. She has participated as a representative of PT conferences against privatization, for the defense of trade union organizations, and campaigned for workplace standards. She is a committee member of the women workers and of the Africa Committee of the International Workers. She was involved with a coalition of unions that spoke out against the war in Iraq, including the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions and the International Confederation of Workers (EIT).In March 2010, Haroune joined other women's-rights activists in calling for repeal of Algeria's Family Code on grounds of its failure to provide adequate protection for females.
In February 2011, she criticised a February 12 anti-Bouteflika demonstration 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...
as social manipulation—"trying to manipulate the social discontent, which is real, to divert it in the service of imperialism"—and prescribed
a clean break with the European UnionShe noted that the demonstration had been supported by former prime minister and International Monetary FundEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the repeal of all the concessions made to the World Trade OrganizationWorld Trade OrganizationThe World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
(WTO), and [a] return to full economic sovereignty.
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
/World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
consultant Ahmed Benbitour
Ahmed Benbitour
Ahmed Benbitour is an Algerian politician who was Prime Minister of Algeria from 1999 to 2000.Born at Metlilli, Ghardaïa, Benbitour graduated from Université de Montréal in 1984 with a Ph.D. in Economics. He now lives in London, England....
. Her editorial message called on "activists, members and supporters to form popular committees ... to establish their demands through free discussion, and [press for] exclusively national, Algerian solutions."
External links
- Daikha Dridi Louisa Hanoune, First female candidate to stand for the Algerian presidential elections at BabelMed, 2004 PT (Workers' Party) website (Site du Parti des Travailleurs) carrying (as at 6 March 2011) Louisa Hanoune's 2009 presidential election message. 23 February 2009. (Site appears not to have been updated)