Assemblee Populaire Nationale (Popular National Assembly), Algiers

The Popular National Assembly (APN) serves as the lower house of Algeria’s bicameral Parliament. This significant institution operates from a striking Art Deco-style building located on Boulevard Zighoud-Youcef in Algiers, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The structure, originally designed in 1934 by architects Édouard and Jean Niermans in collaboration with Jean Ferlié, stands as a testament to the architectural ambitions of early 20th-century Algiers. Initially intended as the city hall, it was completed in 1951 and reassigned after Algeria’s independence in 1962 to house the APN.

The building’s history is deeply intertwined with the city’s past. Its location was previously a military warehouse constructed during the Second French Empire. Before this, Algiers’ city hall had moved several times, from the Casbah in 1850 to the former Grand Hôtel d'Orient in 1883, and finally to this grand edifice. However, material shortages during and after World War II delayed its finishing touches, and even at its inauguration in 1951, some elements remained incomplete.

The APN consists of 407 members elected through proportional representation, with eight seats reserved for Algerians abroad. Members serve five-year terms, representing Algeria’s 58 provinces and an overseas constituency. The current speaker is independent member Ibrahim Boughali. Voting is optional from age 18, and candidates must be at least 28.

Looking ahead, plans are in place to move the APN and the Council of the Nation to a new Algerian Parliament complex in the Hussein Dey district of Algiers. However, the current building remains an iconic symbol of Algeria’s political and architectural history, standing prominently next to the Prefecture of Algiers and contributing to the city's evolving urban landscape.