Politics of Tunisia

Politics of Tunisia Political parties in Tunisia Elections in Tunisia

Tunisia is a republic. Its current Constitution was adopted on June 1, 1959 soon after independence from France. It was amended on July 12, 1988, and then in 2002 it was changed solely to allow the president to run for reelection one more time in 2004. (In 1988, one of the amendments was to limit to 3 the number of terms a president is allowed to run).

• Capital: Tunis
• Independence: March 20, 1956 (from France)
• National holiday: Independence Day, March 20 (1956)
• Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Contents

1 Country name 2 Administrative divisions 3 Legal system 4 Executive branch 5 Legislative branch 6 Judicial branch 7 Political parties and leaders 8 International organization participation 9 Flag description

Country name

• conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
• conventional short form: Tunisia
• local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
• local short form: Tunis

Administrative divisions

Main article: Governorates of Tunisia

Tunisia is divided into 24 governorates: Ariana (Aryanah), Béja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

Legal system

The Tunisian legal system is based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session.

Executive branch

Tunisia's Head of State, is President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who has held this role since November 7, 1987. According to the constitution this position is popularly elected, and in the presidential election of 1999, the president received 99.4% of the vote. The presidential term lasts 5 years, and all adults older than 20 may vote.

The last presidential election was held on October 24, 2004. The next one is to be held in October 2009). President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was reelected for a fourth term. Percent of vote:

• Zine El Abidine Ben Ali: 94.5%
• Mohamed Bouchira: 3.8%
• Mohamed Ali Halouani: 1%

The President appoints the Prime Minister and his cabinet, who since November 17, 1999 has been Mohammed Ghannouchi. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the president.

Legislative branch

The unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab) has 189 seats and members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms.

The last elections were held on October 24, 2004, with a victory for the ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally. The next election is to be held in 2009. 2004 result details:

Party	Seats
Democratic Constitutional Rally	152
Movement of Socialist Democrats	14
Popular Unity Party	11
Unionist Democratic Union	7
Al-Tajdid	3
Social Liberal Party	2

The elections held on October 24, 1999 had resulted in a victory for the ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally with 91.6% of the vote. The Chamber of Deputies comprised 182 at this time. Result details:

Party	Seats
Democratic Constitutional Rally	148
Movement of Socialist Democrats	13
Unionist Democratic Union	7
Popular Unity Party	7
Movement for Renewal	5
Social Liberal Party	2

Prior elections had resulted even more in favour of the government; the electoral code was changed to guarantee that the opposition won 34 seats.

Judicial branch

• Cour de Cassation.

Political parties and leaders

See also: List of political parties in Tunisia

• Al-Tajdid Movement - Adel Chaouch
• Democratic Constitutional Rally (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Démocratique) or RCD - President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (official ruling party)
• Social Liberal Party or PSL - Mounir Beji
• Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS - Khamis Chammari
• Popular Unity Party or PUP Mohamed Belhaj Amor
• Unionist Democratic Union or UDU Abderrahmane Tlili

Banned political parties include:

• Al Nahda (Renaissance), an Islamist party
• Tunisian Communist Workers Party
• National Council for Liberties in Tunisia
• Congress for the Republic

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MICAH, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Flag description

The flag of Tunisia is red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam.

fr:Politique de la Tunisie