Algeria challenges Morocco at Parlatino in South America

The Chamber of Deputies in Algeria is now an observer member of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino). «This decision came after the deliberations (in September, editor's note) of the 23 members of the Board of Directors of this body. This membership represents a historic step for Algeria in expanding its parliamentary cooperation with the Latin American and Caribbean region, especially since Parlatino includes 23 parliaments composed of 4,500 parliamentarians representing 369 political parties from the region’s countries», the lower house stated yesterday in a press release reported by the Algerian media.

Since April 2018, Morocco has held permanent observer member status with Parlatino. That same year, the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding focused on strengthening communication and cooperation on issues of common interest. In April 2022, the House of Councillors inaugurated the King Mohammed VI Library at the Parlatino headquarters.

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, in June 2022, received Parlatino’s current president, Argentine senator Silvia del Rosario Giacoppo, in Rabat. On the issue of Western Sahara, she expressed support for a political solution, saying, «We support and defend the position of the Kingdom of Morocco in opting for the resolution of this conflict through diplomatic means and respecting what the UN has established over the years, so the parties can reach a solution without resorting to military conflict», she told the Moroccan press after her meeting with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

In parallel with the Chamber of Deputies' new observer member status with Parlatino, Algerian diplomacy has been active in expanding support for the Polisario Front in the region. In 2024, Algiers spearheaded the creation of new associations in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil to defend the Front's positions.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in an interview with local media on Saturday, October 5, did not hide his disappointment with recent developments in Latin America, though he did not provide further details.