Low Voter Turnout in Tunisia’s “Regional and Local National Council” Elections
Tunisia Prepares for Second Round of Local Council Elections
Faruk Buasker, Chairman of the Tunisian Independent Supreme Electoral Board, recently held a press conference providing updates on the country’s local council elections. The announcement was made at the election center in the capital, Tunisia, where Buasker revealed that out of 9,080,987 registered voters in the country, 1,059,004 had already voted. The voting rate for the local council elections was reported at 11.66%.
Looking ahead, Buasker also stated that the second round of the elections is scheduled to take place in early February. The final results from the first round are expected to be shared with the public before December 27.
Tunisia boasts more than 9 million eligible voters, with 7,205 candidates vying for 279 parliamentary seats. The election system in the country follows a two-round process, where candidates must secure more than half of the votes to be elected in the first round. In instances where this threshold is not met, a second round of elections will be held, featuring the two candidates with the highest number of votes.
Following the completion of the elections, each of the 279 local councils will appoint a member chosen by lottery to the provincial council. From there, 77 council members will serve in the Regional and Local National Council, with their allocation distributed across different regions.
With 24 provinces in total, the provincial council members will take turns serving in the Regional and Local National Council, determined by a draw every three months. The Council plays a crucial role in regulating the relationship between the Assembly of People’s Representatives and local governments, along with providing input on budget and development plan decisions.
Moreover, the Council is expected to see new legislation enacted after the elections, outlining its responsibilities and influence in the parliamentary budget voting process.
The process leading up to the Local and Regional National Council elections in Tunisia was marked by significant political developments. This included the suspension of the parliament and the lifting of parliamentary member immunity by Tunisian President Kays Said on July 25, 2021, leading to heightened political and economic turmoil in the country.
President Said later expanded his powers and tightened control over the executive branch through a new decree announced on September 22, 2021. In response, a constitutional referendum was held on July 25, 2022, followed by early general elections as part of a “road map out of the political crisis” unveiled in December 2021.
With the introduction of the presidential system under the new constitution, the formation of the Regional and Local National Council was established as the second wing of the People’s Assembly. However, many political parties in Tunisia have chosen to boycott the elections, citing undemocratic actions taken by President Said following the July 25 decisions.
As the country prepares for the upcoming second round of local council elections, the political landscape remains dynamic, reflecting the complex and evolving nature of Tunisia’s governance and electoral processes.
