Saida Benhabiles Hussein Bousaleh – Algiers Algerian women have made giant steps regarding political presence, Head of the Algerian Feminist Movement for Solidarity with Rural Families Saida Benhabiles told Arabstoday. The former Minister for National Solidarity also praised the 30 percent women’s quota in parliament, while also condemning the practice of some parties who exploited women for their own good. Speaking to Arabstoday, Benhabiles also criticised what she called the exclusion of cultured, politically-aware woman whom she said was considered a threat. Behaniles also stressed that female representation must be judged by quality as well as quanitiy. Benhabiles referred to it as a clear testimony to the prominent role played by Algerian women in politics, which was highlighted during the May 10 legislative elections. The elections placed Algeria first among Arab countries in terms of female representation in parliament, with 31.38 percent of elected representatives being women (ahead of Tunisia with 26.7 percent). This makes Algeria no. 25 worldwide, giving female representation a special depth and an active role in decision-making. The former member of the State Council and winner of the United Nations Vienna Award for Civil Society, said that Algerian women, like other Arab women, are beginning to participate forcefully in political life and have shown their competence and strength in different fields. Touching on the subject of rural women, Benhabiles said that they are a crucial element in balancing the Algerian equation, referring to their active role in the Algerian was of independence and in all other historical eras. She particularly emphasised the “hot-coal years” of the early 1990s caused by religious extremism and presented examples of stands taken by female teachers in rural schools, who stood up in the face of the machine of death and terrorism. The former minister spoke of a specific incident she lived through in the al-Arbaa region when female teachers refused to implement the decision to suspend schooling and declare 1994 “a white year”. Saida Benhabiles also touched upon the difference made by female voters to the results of major election, highlighting the fact that women head to the polling stations at the most decisive moments when men lag behind. The President of the International Association for the Victims of Terrorism added that one cannot speak of establishing sustainable democracy in the absence of civil society, which she considers the main polling power and the link between all sections of society and the government. She also urged a change in the idea that the civil society represents political opposition adding that it plays a positive role in entrenching democratic values and sustainable development.