Next Tunisian general election

This article is about the unscheduled general election. For the Constituent Assembly election, see Tunisian Constituent Assembly election, 2011.

Tunisia

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Tunisia

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The next Tunisian general election was originally scheduled to be held in 2014, but it was brought forward by the Tunisian Revolution which caused the ousting of President Ben Ali on 14 January 2011. It was later postponed indefinitely after it was decided to first hold a Constituent Assembly election on 23 October.

Background

Protests in Tunisia began in December 2010 with riots in Sidi Bouzid after Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight in protest against the confiscation of his fruit and vegetable cart.^[1] The riots then spread across the country and continued into 2011. Days after a curfew was imposed in the capital Tunis amid continuing conflagarations, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali left the country. Ben Ali's Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi briefly took over as acting president^[2] before he handed power over to parliamentary speaker Fouad Mebazaa^[3] after the head of Tunisia's Constitutional Court, Fethi Abdennadher, declared that Ghannouchi did not have right to take power and Mebazaa would have 60 days to organise a new general election.^[4] For his part, Mebazaa said it was in the country's best interest to form a National Unity government.^[5]

Days before leaving office, Ben Ali said he would not seek to change the constitution and run for a sixth term in office.^[6][7]

Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally considered to change its name (retaining the "Constitution" part in some form) and run in the general election on an anti-Islamist platform.^[8] However, the party was banned on 6 February 2011^[9] and dissolved on 9 March 2011.^[10]

The head of the Higher Political Reform Commission, prominent lawyer Yadh Ben Achour, warned that Tunisia risked anarchy if the transitional period is not handled with care, as institutions and mechanisms of the state are either in disarray or still tainted by links to Ben Ali's regime. Ben Achour also stated that the commission was unsure whether it would be better to reform the constitution or elect a constitutional assembly to write a completely new one, but that it had to be decided soon, as the public was growing tired of waiting. He also confirmed elections would not be held by 15 March 2011 as theoretically stipulated by the constitution, pointing to force majeure as legitimate grounds for taking longer until the election.^[11]

The interim government announced on 25 February 2011, that elections would be held by mid-July "at the latest".^[12] The constitution of Tunisia mandates an election to occur within 45 to 60 days of the Constitutional Council's declaration of the presidency being vacant,^[13] but there were calls by the opposition to delay the elections and hold them only within six or seven months, with international supervision.^[14]

After the formation of an interim government, over 70 political parties were formed in order to run for the elections. ^[15]

Dates

See also: Tunisian Constituent Assembly election, 2011

The general election has been postponed indefinitely as the president announced on 3 March that an election to a Constituent Assembly would be held on 24 July.^[16] This election was itself postponed and finally took place on 23 October.^[17]

Presidential election

Under Article 57 of the Constitution, acting President Mebazaa cannot be a candidate in the presidential election, even if he resigns.^[13] He is also above the age limit of 75 for presidential candidates.

Declared candidates

The first opposition politician to declare his candidacy on 17 January was Moncef Marzouki, a secular human rights activist from the political left and founder of the Congress for the Republic, which had been banned under Ben Ali.^[18]

Tunisian journalist and government critic Taoufik Ben Brik announced his candidacy on 20 January.^[19]

Declined candidates

Rachid Ghannouchi returned to Tunisia from exile on 30 January, but stated that he would not run in the presidential election.^[20]

Potential candidates

On 15 January 2011, Al Jazeera speculated that the top contenders for the presidency were the following:^[21]

• Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi. However, in a TV interview on 21 January, he vowed to quit politics after elections.^[22]
• Former Foreign Minister Kamel Morjane
• Regional Development Minister and opposition party (PDP) leader Ahmed Najib Chebbi
• Former Tourism and Commerce Minister Mohamed Jegham fr:Mohamed Jegham [1] founder with Ahmed Friaa of new Al Watan Party [2]

References

1. ^ "Tunisian who sparked rare protests dies: relatives -Reuters". Af.reuters.com. 2011-01-05. http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE70408420110105. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
2. ^ Ganley, Elaine. "NewsTimes.com - The Latest". Hosted.ap.org. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_TUNISIA_RIOTS?SITE=CTDAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
3. ^ David D. Kirkpatrick (15 January 2011). "New Change of Power Raises Questions in Tunisia". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/world/africa/16tunis.html. 
4. ^ "Unrest engulfs Tunisia after president flees". http://apnews.myway.com//article/20110115/D9KOQ2B01.html. 
5. ^ "Tunisia's interim president backs a unity govt". http://apnews.myway.com//article/20110115/D9KOQT000.html. 
6. ^ "Tunisia President Ben Ali 'will not seek new term'". BBC News. 13 January 2011 Last updated at 15:35 ET. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12187084. 
7. ^ Tarek Amara, Christian Lowe; Editing by Maria Golovnina (Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:24pm EST). "Tunisian president rules out new mandate". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70C5J920110113. 
8. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-03/tunisia-s-ex-ruling-party-banks-on-islamists-fear-to-stay-afloat.html
9. ^ "Tunisia suspends Ben Ali's RCD party". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 6 February 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12378006. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
10. ^ "Court dissolves Ben Ali's RCD party". english.rfi.fr. RFI. 9 March 2011. http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20110309-court-dissolves-ben-alis-rdc-party. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
11. ^ Fuller, Thomas (21 February 2011). "Tunisia Reform Leader Warns of Possible Anarchy". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/world/africa/22tunisia.html. 
12. ^ "Facing the unknown in Tunisia". CNN. 27 May 2011. http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/23/tunisia.future/index.html?hpt=C1. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "Tunisia swears in interim leader". al Jazeera. 2011-01-15. Archived from the original on 2011-01-15. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/201111513513854222.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
14. ^ Trois chefs de l'opposition dans le gouvernement tunisien, actualité Reuters : Le Point
15. ^ "Tunisia Seen As Laboratory For Arab Democracy". NPR. May 9, 2011. http://www.npr.org/2011/05/09/136137821/after-uprisings-tunisia-a-laboratory-for-democracy. Retrieved May 10, 2011. 
16. ^ http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n243650
17. ^ Mandraud, Isabelle (14 June 2011). "Tunisian election delayed until October". guardian.co.uk. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/14/tunisian-election-delayed-again-mandraud. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
18. ^ http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/4130/World/Region/Leftist-Marzouki-to-run-for-Tunisian-presidency.aspx
19. ^ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1613183.php/Tunisian-journalist-joins-presidential-race-Extra
20. ^ "Tunisian Islamist leader Rachid Ghannouchi returns home". BBC News. 30 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12318824. 
21. ^ Ben Ali's possible successors - Al Jazeera English - 15 January 2011
22. ^ "Tunisian PM Mohamed Ghannouchi pledges to quit politics". BBC News. 22 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12257631.