CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE 192. The CRM was struck by the predominant role of the Wali. In these times of relative abundance, this person‟s uncontested authority, excessive jurisdiction and control of significant resources makes him the one with whom everyone wishes to be on good terms. The permanent nature of his function means that his position is not contingent or dependent on the vagaries of elections, and all have to refer to him as regards the strategic implementation of presidential, governmental, wilaya and community development programmes. The “Wali as builder” emerges as the “providential link” in territorial decentralisation and deconcentration; he is outside the control of the APC and APW, but not that of central government. Algerian newspapers sometimes recount the misfortunes of certain Walis who have been relieved of their duties and/or prosecuted on the grounds of inappropriate management and corruption. 193. If the law does in effect acknowledge the authority of the APW to control the Wali and his departments, it nonetheless cannot censure or revoke the position of the latter. At most, the APW can convey to the government a resolution taken with regard to the Wali, or submit the issue directly to the Minister of the Interior and Territorial Administration, who will evaluate it. As a result, the system of accountability within the wilaya is limited. The president of the APW, for his part, has insufficient authority or institutional capacity of his own to counterbalance the authority of the Wali. 194. The CRM noted the awareness of the government and the stakeholders of the limitations of decentralisation, and the will of the government to reform the texts governing decentralisation, subject to wide consultation on the envisaged reform. The challenge here is for the communities to face up to the many obstacles to good governance and sustainable development. 195. The CRM noted with interest that the participation of civil society in managing public affairs constitutes a very real democratic and developmental challenge in Algeria. Many unions, professional corporations and different associations form the basis of a developing civil society. The CRM took note of the registration of 79 023 local associations and 948 national associations operating in the most diverse sectors of life (political, economic, social and cultural), in accordance with the traditions and values of mutual support and solidarity so dear to Africa. Many working sessions bore testimony to the effective contribution of the associative movement in identifying social needs, as well as its active participation in local development, in the fight against poverty, unemployment and social exclusion. 196. The fact that most of the associations are not representative of the population is regretted, as well as the often extravagant management of their resources. The same applies to the manipulation of many of these associations by various administrations and political parties. This situation reflects the reservations expressed by Algerians themselves in the February 2007 opinion survey. Some 13.5 per cent of those surveyed considered the method of allocating resources to associations to be good, compared with 33.3 per cent who thought it fair and 44.3 per cent insufficient. Only 5.6 per cent felt it to be very good. It therefore appears necessary on the part of the public authorities and 75