The beginning of a new era in Tunisia?
Voters are called to the polls on Saturday, December 17, to elect their deputies.
A total of 1,58 candidates, including 122 women, are running for the 161 seats in the Assembly of People's Representatives, the lower house of Parliament.
This election is the first since the adoption of a new constitution in July and the publication of a new electoral law in September.
It will therefore be marked by new electoral procedures with many changes, whether in campaign rules, election procedures or the functioning of Parliament.
Individual applications
The first major change is the separation between candidates and parties.
While the latter could previously submit lists, the new electoral law stipulates that candidates must now compete individually, with no affiliation displayed.
A decision contested by several opposition parties such as the conservative Islamist formation Ennahda or the Free Destourian Party (PDL).
The latter had thus lodged a complaint against the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), an action aimed at suspending the electoral process.
The complaint was rejected by a court in Tunis.
Sponsorships and funding
The new electoral law also provides strict rules regarding sponsorships.
To validate their candidatures for the elections, the aspiring deputies had to obtain 400 of them among the voters of their constituency by following criteria of parity and age - 50% of men, 50% of women and at least 25% of young people. under 35 years old.
Each voter can also sponsor only one candidate.
Among the novelties, candidates were also asked to provide a local program and a clean criminal record to apply to the independent higher authority for elections, responsible for validating the files.
Finally, it is now forbidden to use public money or have your campaign financed by a party: only private financing is authorized.
Binationality, functions and parity
Another important change: the framework for applications from dual nationals.
The text now confines their participation to constituencies abroad, including those who reside on Tunisian soil.
Members of the government, chiefs of staff, judges, heads of diplomatic missions or even imams, for their part, cannot compete unless they left office at least a year ago.
While the previous electoral law provided for equality between men and women on the lists, the new text does not mention a rule on parity, although it is included in the Constitution.
On the other hand, parity is required on the sponsorship lists, as explained above.
Among the 1058 legislative candidates, less than 130 are women.
01:49
New voting method
This reform is also accompanied by a new voting system.
Members of the Assembly of People's Representatives were previously elected by multi-member proportional voting: voters voted for lists and the number of seats was then distributed according to the number of votes obtained.
This system is replaced by the first-past-the-post system in two rounds.
Voters now vote for a single candidate.
If no participant obtains an absolute majority, then a second round is organized between the two candidates having obtained the most votes.
Redistricting
With the previous list electoral system, several candidates could therefore be elected within the same constituency.
The 217 seats were then divided into 33 electoral districts, six of which were abroad.
The electoral reform is therefore accompanied by an electoral redistricting: the number of constituencies goes from 33 to 161 (including 10 abroad) - which corresponds to the total number of seats.
Reduced Assembly
The new constitution, which entered into force on August 16, finally introduces several changes in prerogatives.
It stipulates in particular that the president can submit legislative texts to the Parliament and that his projects “have priority”.
Deputies can, for their part, submit bills, "provided that they are presented by at least ten" of them.
The text also reduces the immunity they enjoy and makes it more difficult to vote on motions of no confidence - a measure that can bring down the government.
Finally, the new constitution confirms the creation of a second chamber: the National Council of Regions and Districts, to counterbalance the power of the Assembly.
According to the electoral calendar, the preliminary results should be announced on December 20.
The date of January 19 was set as the maximum deadline for the proclamation of the final results.
A second round should then take place in February or March 2023 in the electoral districts.
The summary of the
France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 app