This study aims to analyze the trajectory of Algerian women's political participation in local elected councils and the National People's Assembly during the period from 2012 to 2026, through a sociopolitical approach focusing on the relationship between numerical representation, substantive representation, and positions of influence within elected institutions. The study is based on the assumption that the quantitative increase in women's presence, particularly following the adoption of electoral quota mechanisms in 2012, does not automatically ensure sustainable representation or access to leadership and decision-making positions. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach based on official electoral data, the Inter-Parliamentary Union databases, and relevant sociological and political literature. The findings indicate a decline in women's representation in the National People's Assembly from 31.6% in 2012 to 6.1% in July 2026, alongside the continued limited presence of women in local leadership positions. The study concludes that the challenge of women's political participation is linked to the mechanisms through which political representation is produced and sustained, rather than merely to the number of female candidates.