News

Tunisian presidential candidates face tough race against Ben Ali, Magharebia (2009)

With the elections coming up soon, the presidential campaign is full of controversies.

The end of choice in Tunisia, Guardian (2009)

Even though the president promised fair elections, in reality no one can compete with Ben Ali and his Constitutional Democratic Rally.

Do elections have any meaning in Tunisia's closed political system? The Daily Star (2009)

This article provides an overview of current Tunisian electoral model, pointing out some serious flaws and factors that continue to affect the election results and ensure Ben Ali's victory.

Tunisian president in fifth win, BBC News (2009)

President Ben Ali has secured a landslide victory, gaining almost 90% of the votes, while voter turnout was as high as 84%.

Tunisia opposition wins quarter of Parliament seats, Magharebia (2009)

Even though the ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) of Ben Ali obtained the majority in the parliamentary elections winning 161 seats and Ben Ali was elected president for the fifth time, the opposition candidates won a record breaking 53 seats in Tunisia's Parliament.

Tunisia local elections to feature more female candidates, Magharebia (2010)

Tunisia's political parties are gearing up for the May 9th, 2010 municipal elections by widely increasing the number of female political candidates on their electoral rolls.

Tunisia: Make-up of 2010 Municipal Elections National Observatory announced, Tunisia Online News (2010)

Make-up of 2010 Municipal Elections National Observatory announced

Tunisia ruling party sweeps local elections, Reuters (2010)

The ruling Party in Tunisia has won the Municipal elections just before the beginning of talks with the EU.

Tunisia: UTICA calls on President Ben Ali to run for next presidential elections, Tunisia Online New (2010)

This news is on the national council of the Tunisian Industry, Trade and Handicrafts Union (UTICA) which called on President Ben Ali to stand for the next presidential elections, during a meeting held on Saturday under Mr. Hédi Djilani’s chairmanship.

Tunisia to hold elections within 60 days, Ahram Online (2011)

As deadly fires raged in the town of Monastir and protests swept across the capital, the parliamentary speaker became interim leader following the departure of the deposed Ben Ali. Tunisia should hold a presidential election within 60 days, the constitutional authority said on Saturday 15 Jan, as the army patrolled the capital to try to stem protests that swept the president from power.

Tunisia PM to announce new government, Reuters (2011)

This news article says Tunisia's prime minister promised to announce a new coalition government on Monday 17 Jan, and called for calm after security forces fought street battles with gunmen loyal to the ousted president.

Tunisia Islamist leader does not support an Islamic state, VOA News (2011)

In this news article; the Islamist leader Rachid Ghanouchi who has been in Tunisia's spotlight since returning to the North African country after more than two decades in exile.

Tunisian official orders shutdown of former ruling party's offices, Los Angeles Times (2011)

Tunisia's new interior minister on Sunday ordered the party of ousted President Zine el Abidine ben Ali to shut its offices and suspend all activities pending its formal dissolution as part of the purge of all vestiges of the former regime, state television reported.

Reform Lawyer Says Tunisia Risks Anarchy, New York Times (2011)

This news article is about the warning by the head of a Tunisian government commission on political reform on Monday 21 Feb, that the country risked falling into “anarchy” as it passed through what he described as a very dangerous post-revolutionary transition toward multi-party democracy.

Tunisia: More resignations from interim government, VOA News (2011)

This news article is on the resignation of two more Cabinet ministers, including a prominent opposition party leader, from Tunisia's interim unity government following weeks of protests against the caretaker administration.

Tunisia: Ennahda party may join interim govt, Reuters (2011)

In this news article; Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda movement, banned for two decades until this week, could now join the government as cabinet resignations threatened a shaky transition to democracy, its leader said on Wednesday 2 March. Six ministers quit this week following deadly protests, leaving the caretaker government, which stepped in after long-time leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted on Jan 14, on the verge of collapse.

Tunisia: President Fouad Mebazaa calls election, BBC (2011)

In this news article; Tunisia's interim president Fouad Mebazaa has announced details of new elections promised after the overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Mr Mebazaa said voting for a council of representatives to rewrite the constitution would be held by 24 July.

Tunisia to keep election date, Magharebia (2011)

Despite calls by electoral commission chief Kamel Jendoubi to postpone the election for several months because of a fear of unmanagable voting conditions, the Tunisian cabinet declared the election dates will stay the same.

Tunisia Postpones Election, Possibly Aiding New Parties, New York Times (2011)

The interim Tunisian government on Wednesday postponed the first election since the ouster in January of the former dictator, citing technical problems and inevitably reshuffling Tunisian political dynamics. The decision pushes the scheduled vote for a constituent assembly to Oct. 23 from July 24. The deferral is likely to bolster the fortunes of the dozens of new political parties still scrambling to organize, perhaps at the expense of their better established rivals, both liberal and Islamist.

Tunisian party fears violence if election delayed, Reuters (2011)

This news article is about the Tunisia's main Islamist party which said on Monday 6 June that delays to a scheduled election date or changes to other plans for a new political order could "drag the country into a spiral of violence".

Tunisia debates Constituent Assembly powers, Magharebia (2011)

This news article talks about Some Tunisian political parties that want to limit the authority of the Constituent Assembly in an effort to avoid concentrating power in the hands of one body.

Tunisia: Swiss observer upbeat about elections, Swiss Info (2011)

In this news article an interview with Andreas Gross who has been chosen by the Council of Europe to head its mission to observe the elections. Gross, a member of the Swiss parliament for the centre-left Social Democrats, is one of the Swiss representatives in the Council. He says the bodies in Tunisia responsible for organising the elections have shown themselves strong and capable, and democracy is being respected.

Tunisia: Campaigning for post-revolt poll peaks in Tunisia, Oman Tribune (2011)

This news article talks about the monotonous stream of political campaign messages assails Tunisians over public radio and television for up to four hours every day.

Tunisian vote panel "all ready" for landmark election, Khaleej Times (2011)

This news article is about the readiness of then panel organizing Tunisia's landmark constituent assembly elections for the weekend vote after a trial run in Tunis. The 7,361 polling stations serving the country’s 27 constituencies will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. About 50,000 electoral agents will be deployed in the polling stations and 5,000 national observers and 530 international observers will monitor the vote.

Tunisia Islamists set for big election gains, CBS News (2011)

This news article is about the Islamist parties which may gain well in the upcoming elections next Sunday 23 October 2011.

Testing Tunisia's commitment to democracy, Aljazeera (2011)

This news article says, voters will choose representatives for a constituent assembly tasked with re-writing the constitution, and the new body will enjoy a level of legitimacy not seen in generations. Although Tunisians and the world are fixated on the moderate Islamist party, al-Nahda, and how high it will rise, the success or failure of the transition to democracy depends less on who wins the election and more on the path taken by the constituent assembly after it is created.

Tunisia: NDI fields International Observation mission for Constituent Assembly Elections, NDI (2011)

This press release is from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) which announced the arrival today of its international observer delegation for Tunisia’s Oct. 23 constituent assembly elections. The Institute is fielding 49 accredited observers from 17 countries who will deploy throughout Tunisia on election day. The mission’s objective is to observe impartially every aspect of the election process - including the campaign, the casting and counting of ballots on election day, and the postelection period. The delegation will issue a preliminary statement of its findings during a news conference Oct. 24.

Tunisia: EU to observe the Constituent Assembly elections, EU (2011)

Upon invitation of the Tunisian authorities, the European Union is deploying an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the Constituent Assembly elections in Tunisia, scheduled for 23 October 2011.

Tunisia: Islamists Lead Polls Before Tunisian Election, Bloomberg (2011)

This news article is about Tunisia, the first country to rise up in the so-called Arab Spring, which may also become the region’s first new democracy to vote an Islamist party into power. Ennahdha, an Islamic party legalized only six months ago, is the front-runner in the Oct. 23 vote to choose an assembly to write a new constitution, according to an OpinionWay poll released just before a pre-election polling ban took effect on Oct. 1. The party says it won’t impose its views on what is now the most secular country in the region.

Tunisia: Q&A on elections, BBC (2011)

These are Q&A from the BBC about Tunisian Elections. Voters who will head to the polls on 23 October to vote in the first comprehensive general election . Voters will choose representatives for the new Constituent Assembly which will draw up a new constitution and appoint a new transitional government until further elections return a permanent government.

Tunisians prepare to head to the polls, Alarabiya News(2011)

This news article is about the preparing by Tunisian people for the Elections on 23 October.

Tunisian Women Fighting Emancipation’s Peril on Eve of Election, Bloomberg Business Week (2011)

This news article is about Tunisian women who played a major role in the protests that ended the rule of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and triggered revolts across the Middle East. Their priority now, in the Arab Spring’s first free election, is to preserve parts of Tunisia’s old regime, which gave women more rights than other Arab countries, while ending its corruption and repression.

Tunisia seeks female turnout in elections, Magharebia (2011)

This news article is about an awareness campaign which has revealed that many Tunisian women remain ill-informed about the voting process.

Tunisia election turnout more than 90 per cent, The Telegraph (2011)

This news article is about the Tunisian Elections where officials had initially said that turnout had passed 70 per cent two hours before the voting booths closed, and had been above 80 per cent in some areas. . ISIE electoral commission secretary-general said more than 90 per cent of some 4.1 million citizens who registered ahead of the poll had cast their votes on Sunday 23 October - at least half of all eligible voters. No figures were available for the other 3.1 million voters who did not register but also had the right to vote.

Tunisia: Financing questions shadow Tunisian vote, Taiwan News (2011)

This news article says as Tunisians prepare to vote Sunday in the first election of the Arab Spring, the parties and their supporters have ramped up a bitter debate over allegations about the influence of "dirty money" behind the scenes of the race.

The real significance of Tunisia's election, Aljazeera (2011)

This news article discusses the importance of the poll in Tunisia that it is not which party wins the popular vote for the constituent assembly. The true significance will be whether Tunisia votes, and "which" Tunisia votes for which party or list.

Tunisia: Early signs in Tunisian election point to strong Islamist showing, monitors call the vote fair, Washington Post (2011)

This news artciel says that Tunisian authorities counted votes Monday 24 October in the first free election in the nation’s history, with early signs that a once-banned Islamist party is leading in the country that unleashed uprisings across the Arab world.

Tunisia: Carter Center Reports Peaceful and Enthusiastic Participation in Tunisia's Landmark Elections, Carter Center (2011)

In a statement released today 25 October, Carter Center observers monitoring the landmark Oct. 23 Constituent Assembly elections in Tunisia reported that the voting process was marked by peaceful and enthusiastic participation, generally transparent procedures, and popular confidence about Tunisia's democratic transition. Tunisian voters waited patiently in very long lines, determined to take part in the historic first election of the Arab Spring movements of 2011.

Tunisia: Election feat sets high bar for Arab Spring nations lacking its rigor and enthusiasm

this news article says, in just five months, an independent Tunisian commission organized the first free elections in this North African nation’s history. The ballot attracted 80 parties offering candidates, drew a massive turnout by impassioned voters and was effusively praised by international observers.

Tunisia: Al Aridha Chaabia party has some seats revoked, The Guardian (2011)

This news article says that a grassroots political party which surprised many with gains in the Tunisian elections has had some of its seats revoked after allegations that it broke election rules.

Tunisian Islamists Win Landmark Election, VOA News (2011)

In this news article; Tunisian authorities say the moderate Islamist Ennahdha party has won the country's first free elections, taking 90 of 217 assembly seats – three times the number won by its nearest rival. Ennahdha secured more than 41 percent of the vote and will dominate Tunisia's constituent assembly, tasked with writing a new constitution, appointing a president and forming a caretaker government.

Tunisian election marred by clashes, Irish Times (2011)

The Islamist Ennahda party has been officially declared the winner of Tunisia's election, setting it up to form the first Islamist-led government in the wake of the "Arab Spring" uprisings. But the election, which has so far confounded predictions it would tip the North African country into crisis, turned violent last night when protesters angry their fourth-placed party was eliminated from the poll set fire to the mayor's office in a provincial town.

Tunisia Moves to the Next Stage, MERIP (2011)

This article is about analyzing the Tunisian Elections

Tunisian: Final election results confirm win for Islamist party, Washington Post (2011)

This news article gives details on Tunisia’s final election results which confirmed the victory of an Islamist party, giving it a major say in the country’s new government and future constitution, the election commission announced Monday 14 November . The final results for the Oct. 23 contests give the once-banned Ennahda Party 89 out of 217 seats, more than triple the next biggest vote getter.

Tunisian assembly adopts provisional constitution, Aljazeera (2011)

This news article is about the adoption of a provisional constitution by Tunisia's constituent assembly. This provisional constitution sets the stage for the country to name a new government, nearly two months after its first post-revolution election. The 217-member assembly, elected in November, individually approved each of the 26 clauses of the document to get state institutions back on the move.

Tunisia unveils new cabinet, Magharebia (2011)

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali on Thursday (December 22nd) presented his government to the Constituent Assembly. The 41-member coalition cabinet consists of 30 ministers and 11 state secretaries.

Tunisia’s fragmented opposition struggles to confront powerful Islamists in next election, Washington Post (2012)

This news article says Tunisia’s fledgling democracy is threatened by a weak opposition that isn’t offering a viable alternative to the well-organized Islamists in power, and discontent is taking the form of angry riots with extremist overtones instead. In last year’s elections, the disciplined Islamist Ennahda took 37 percent of the vote and 89 seats in the 217-person assembly, three times more than the next best performer. It then joined in a coalition with two other liberal parties to form an unassailable majority of 138 seats.

Tunisia: Moderate Islamist leader beats out conservatives in party elections, Washington Post (2012)

This news article says Tunisia’s most powerful Islamist party re-elected a moderate as its leader by a landslide in the early hours of the morning Tuesday, snubbing candidates that believed in imposing Islamic law on the country. Rachid Ghannouchi took 72,58 percent of the vote of delegates at the conclusion of a five day conference in which the party promised to promote a civil state with a culture of democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.

Tunisia's new constitution 'not ready' before April 2013 , The Daily Star (2012)

This news article says Tunisia's new constitution will not be adopted by parliament until April 2013, six months later than planned, Habib Khedher, who heads the committee in charge of drafting the constitution, said on Monday. "The final draft of the constitution could be put to the vote (in the National Constituent Assembly) at the end of April," said the lawyer, who belongs to the ruling Islamist party Ennahda and is an elected member of the interim parliament. The government had until now insisted that it would meet the deadline of October 23 for ratifying the new constitution, in order to hold planned general elections in March 2013.

"47% of candidates in legislative elections are women, 12% among them are heads of list", Agence Tunis Afrique Presse (2014)

 

"Twenty-seven candidates run for Tunisia presidential polls", Middle East Eye (2014)

 

Tunisia counts votes after historic poll: High turnout reported in first parliamentary elections since the ouster of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, Al Jazeera (2014)

 

International Observers Commend Tunisia's Election: "An Extraordinary Achievement", by Louis Bonhoure, Tunisia Live (2014)

 

Tunisia's Ennahda 'faces defeat' in elections, by Ahmed El Amraoui, Al Jazeera (2014)

Secular Nidaa Tounes seen emerging as biggest party in 217-seat parliament, pushing Islamists to second place.