Elections in Tunisia

The elections in Tunisia allow the selection a national level of the Head of State - in fact the president of the Republic - and the Parliament. At the municipal level, they allow the selection of the municipal councils.

The president is elected for a five years mandate to the Vote for all. The House of Commons account 189 members. 152 of them are elected according to the majority system, which wants to say that in each of the 25 Circonscription S, the voters choose a list of candidates whom they cannot modify and all the seats of the district go to the gaining list. The 37 remaining seats are allocated proportionally with the minority parties. The Chambre of the advisers comprises as for it 126 members. 85 of them are indirectly elected by members of the House of Commons and by the members from the municipal councils and 41 are named by the president. This last room, elected for the first time the July 3rd 2005, is mainly controlled by the Constitutional Democratic Assembly.

The Electoral code of the April 8th 1969 stipulates that the vote is “universal, free, direct and secret”. In this context, are regarded as voters all the Tunisians and Tunisian 20 years old completed and enjoying their civil laws and policies. The Tunisians from abroad can vote only with the presidential elections and the referendums. The right of eligibility is granted to 23 years (mandate of deputy) and to 40 years (mandates of advising and president of the Republic).

Regularly, of criticisms day as for the honesty of the elections by some Tunisian Political parties as by the international press is done as well.

Campaigns

The electoral meetings are free but a declaration must be made in writing at least 24 hours before the meeting with the governor or with delegated sector. Each meeting must have an office, composed of 3 people at least, “charged maintaining the order, preventing any infringement with the legislation and with preserving at the meeting the character which was given to him by the declaration, to prohibit any contrary speech with the law and order and the moralities or component provocation with a qualified act of crime or offense. ” In addition, a representative of authority can attend the meeting and dissolve it on request of the office or if it occurs “ways in fact”.

The candidates with the elections presidential or legislative are authorized to use the radio and Tunisian television but must deposit as a preliminary a request with the Official Authority. Consequently, the date and the hours of the emissions dedicated to the elections are fixed by way of drawing lot. At the time of those, each candidate is entitled to the same speaking time (what is not the case during the other emissions). However, it is to them strictly interdict to be expressed on the radios or the television channels private, foreign or emitting since the foreigner with an aim of encouraging to vote or to abstain from voting for a candidate or a list of candidates. A possible infringement is punished of a Amende of: 25000 dinars.

Course of the poll

The various governors are charged to indicate the site of the polling stations of each municipality or sector under their control. These sites are made available of the voters 7 days before the day of the poll by way of poster affixed with the seat of the governorship, of the delegations, municipalities and sectors. The governor in addition appoints the president of each polling station like two voters charged to assist it. The members of the office also fulfill the functions of tellers by possibly designating additional tellers designated among the voters present at the time of the vote closure.

The vote is carried out by struck envelopes of the stamp of the governorship and uniform type. They are out of blank paper for the presidential election and in Papier bubble for the legislative ones and the local elections.

In addition, the bulletins of the various candidates are different colors (chosen by the political parties). The paper of white color cannot be selected because it is strictly reserved for the impression of the “texts emanating of the public authority”. For the municipal elections, each list of candidates has also the responsibility of print its own ballot papers and to deposit them with the seats of the governorships 3 days before the poll. Lastly, each list of candidates must deposit with the seat of the governorship a model of the ballot papers chosen, against receipt, before the opening of the electoral campaign.

Last elections

Presidential 2004

Legislative 2004

Electoral history

References

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