ALGIERS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Algeria's new National People's Council, or lower house of parliament, on Tuesday was inaugurated, as the newly elected Members of Parliament were officially appointed in this 7th parliament since the North African nation adopted multi-party system in 1989.
The opening session was chaired by the oldest MP Said Bouhadja, assisted by the two youngest elected members, Touhami Habibi and Ayoub Cheraitiya.
Bouhadja, was later elected unanimously speaker of the lower house of parliament, to replace Mohamed-Larbi Ould Khlifa.
In competition with three candidates from other parties, Bouhadja was endorsed by 356 votes out of total 430 expressed and 19 void ballots. Bouhedja was elected by the MPs of the two major ruling parties of the National Liberation Front (FLN) and the National Democratic Rally (RND).
The May 4 polls saw FLN grabbing 161 seats, followed by its ally RND by 100 seats. This majority is enough to pass any draft law.
Experts said these two parties will also have the majority in the forthcoming cabinet. Four days ago, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal told reporters that the formation of the cabinet falls under the authority of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, specifying that it is to be announced after the inauguration of the new parliament.
The new cabinet is likely to be known by Thursday given that the inauguration of the new parliament is scheduled for Tuesday.
The Islamist movement of Society of Peace (MSP) rejected an offer from President Bouteflika to join the cabinet.
Analysts suggested that Bouteflika is due to form a diversified cabinet while trying to gather all political factions, either Islamists, secular (left-wing) or nationals (right-wing).
However, the prominent opposition parties, such as the Labour Party (PT), the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), the Rally for Culture and Democracy, in addition to Islamists parties, have all rejected to join the new cabinet.
