Following Mouad Bouchareb’s resignation on July 2nd, the Algerian Parliament has now elected a new speaker, Slimane Chenine. His election is a historic one, as it is the first time the parliament will be led by someone who does not belong to either of the two ruling parties -–National Liberation Front (FLN) or the National Rally for Democracy (RND).

Mouad Bouchareb, an ally of former President Bouteflika, followed in the latter’s footsteps three months after he stepped down. Mirroring his ally, his resignation reportedly came after persistent demands by protesters.

Slimane Chenine is a product of the political Islam school of thought. He is the chairman of the Movement of National Construction Party, an alliance of three Islamist opposition parties. His historic election was made possible due to votes from MPs of FLN and RND, the parties that hold the majority of seats in the assembly. According to The Arab Weekly (AW), Chenine is the first Islamist to lead a powerful institution in Algeria.

Chenine’s Islamist party is a minority in Algerian politics. The party’s low popularity has been attributed to the declining popularity of its religious ideology.

Chenine’s overwhelming support and entrance into the Algerian Parliament could be a strategy to quell growing protest and unrest in Algeria. As Saber Blidi of the AW notes: “This development points to prospects of other political deals between the regime and Islamist groups. The goal could be to circumvent the popular movement and absorb the anger of the street and build a power advantage over the democratic current and the popular movement that continues to demand the departure of the regime and total political change.”