Tunisias new constitution in january 2014, a milestone in the countrys transition process, we also questioned h. Used as a roman, arab, turk, and french trading post and regional command centre, this country covers over 160,000 square kilometres and is home to 10. The constitutionmaking process in tunisia the carter center. The new tunisian constitution follows the modern trend to include a constitutional court to prevent. The flag of the tunisian republic is red and bears in its midst a white circle in which is. Whereas many observers are lamenting the failure of the arab spring, tunisia has proven once again that it is on a march toward democracy. It enshrines many rights for women and is step in the right direction, according to many tunisians. We, habib bourguiba, president of the republic of tunisia. God or other deities we, in the name of the tunisian people, with the help of god, draft this constitution. The republic of tunisia lies on the mediterranean coast and shares borders with algeria and libya. Tunisia signs new constitution into law news al jazeera. Introduction on january 26, 2014, tunisias national constituent assembly anc approved the countrys new constitution, three years after the january 14, 2011 ouster of dictator zine elabidine ben ali. The decreelaws adopted by the president must then be approved by the new assembly at its first regular session.
Tunisia embeds anticorruption agency in constitution article developed by undpaciac team 31012014 tunisia adopted its new constitution on 27 january 2014, marking a historic turning point, not only for the people of this small arab country in north africa, but also for peoples of many other. Tunisias national assembly approved a landmark new constitution its first since the ouster of longtime president zine elabidine ben ali three years ago. The problem with tunisias new constitution foreign policy. Tunisias new constitution is complete, passed by lawmakers on. Perhaps less well known is that tunisias constitutiondrafting process during this time is a.
Sharia in tunisias new constitution ennahdha in practice. Lawmakers have approved many of the chapters and articles, and the final vote on the entire document should take place within a few days. Tunisians adopted a new constitution in january 2014 and held national elections between october and december 2014, marking the completion of a fouryear transitional period. Despite its contradictions, tunisias new constitution has paved the way for effective reform. Tunisia approves new constitution, appoints new government. Tunisia signs new constitution world news the guardian. An elected assembly adopted a new constitution in 2014 and tunisians have. Tunisias progress to approve a new constitution stands in contrast to turmoil in libya, egypt and yemen which also toppled. Most importantly, the party accepted the principle of freedom of consciousness and the absence of a reference to sharia. Pdf the eus contributions to tunisias reconstitution. The state commits to protect womens accrued rights and work to strengthen and develop those rights.
Between 2014 and 2018, a consensus political alliance among rival islamist and secularist. This process continued when tunisias first head of government, habib essid, took. April 23 survey of tunisian public opinion, february 1222, 2014. Tunisia passes progressive constitution al jazeera america. Tunisias new constitution prohibits torture and states that as. The constitution is the framework for the organization of the tunisian government and for the relationship of the federal government with the governorates, citizens, and all people within tunisia. In a strong statement in favor of competitive politics, the country fielded more.
Tunisia passes progressive constitution january 27, 2014 6. Urges immediate steps for its implementation april 10, 2014 three years following the fall of the ben ali regime and more than two years following the election of the national constituent assembly nca, tunisians made a decisive step in their. The problem with tunisias new constitution human rights. Tunisias new constitution of 2014 stipulates that local authorities be empowered to tackle local development issues. Security conditions have improved since large attacks in 20152016, although militant groups that have pledged allegiance to al qaeda and the islamic state remain active in border regions, and. Under the framework of a new democratic constitution, voters went to the polls to determine.
Tunisias new constitution has captured international headlines. The carter center welcomes strengthened rights guarantees in tunisias new constitution. The new constitution should provide a foundation for the upholding of human rights, not allow for the exploitation of them. The tunisian constitution, adopted on january 27, 2014, contains robust provisions for the protection of freedom of speech. Tunisias constitution of 2014 pdf, retrieved 14 january 2018. Carter center statement on tunisias electoral legislation. The constitution of tunisia in the name of the people, we, habib bourguiba, president of the republic of tunisia, considering the decree of december 29, 1955 14 djoumada i 75 establishing the constituent national. This document is available also in arabic and french. Ennahda remains the most powerful bloc in the national constituent assembly with 90 seats out of 217 seats. Finally a new constitution for tunisia, birthplace of arab. After two years of fractious debates, mass street protests, and political assassinations, tunisias new constitution has been hailed as a model of what consensus politics, dialogue, and compromise between islamists, secularists, and liberals can achieve. The political decentralisation process, nonetheless, is moving painstakingly slowly, and. After two years and four drafts, tunisias new constitution was finally approved on january 26, 2014 the first constitution freely created by a democratic assembly in the arab world. Chapter vii of the constitution, which addresses local government, provides for.
In this study, the european unions eu contributions to tunisias new constitution will be examined. Tunisias vote on the new constitution gives the arab spring a timely and a badlyneeded booster shot. Most radical islamist activities were banned, and the new government initiated a campaign against activist imams and islamic associations, obliging them to follow ennahdas lead in terms of moderation. With only a few weeks left before the next parliamentary elections on october 26, it. Tunisias first legislative elections postrevolution al. Nearly four years after tunisians descended into the streets to demand political change, the 2014 legislative and presidential elections constitute an important step forward in the countrys democratic transition. The middle east channel tunisian parliament adopts new constitution tunisias constituent assembly overwhelmingly passed a new constitution sunday night after two years of bargaining between the. This report analyses the context of the election, contenders, likely outcomes of the elections and implications for. Tunisia embeds anticorruption agency in constitution.
Constitution of tunisia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. On january 3, the national constituent assembly nca began voting on the countrys new constitution. Freedom of religion in the 2014 tunisian constitution chicago. Amna guellali is director of the human rights watch office for tunisia. Article 17 only the state may establish armed forces and internal security forces, in conformity with the law and in the service of the public interest. Tunisian parliament adopts new constitution foreign policy. Adopted in march 2014, following the jasmine revolution, the constitutional reform had the aim of addressing the democratic. Carter center statement on tunisias electoral legislation and municipal and regional elections tunisias new constitution, ratified in 2014, elevated local democracy to a prominent position. Tunisia approves new constitution, appoints government. But more work must be done to truly put the country on a stable, democratic path. The anc, elected october 23, 2011 in the countrys first free elections, started the process of drafting the new constitution on february, 2012. Tunisias transitional process has been lauded as the most successful among the arab spring countries. Le dialogue national en tunisie, nirvana, tunis, 2014, p. It remains to be seen whether tunisias new leaders will be able to meet public demands to create jobs, improve living standards, counter corruption, ensure security.
Number 10, february 2014 convince, coerce, or compromise. Tunisias first modern constitution was the fundamental pact of 1857. Tunisias new constitutional court by duncan pickard atlantic council rafik hariri center for the middle east issue in focus duncan pickard is a nonresident fellow at the rafik hariri center for the middle east and a jd candidate at. Tunisias first legislative elections under its new constitution will take place 26 october 2014. By voting for tunisias new constitution in january 2014, the islamist party ennahda accepted many principles that were in contradiction with islamist ideology. Rg ap photohassene dridi tunisias struggle for political pluralism after ennahda by hardin lang, mokhtar awad, peter juul, and brian katulis april 2014. Panarabist ideology in the new tunisian constitution memri. The 1959 tunisian constitution already recognised women as equal before the. Finally a new constitution for tunisia, birthplace of arab spring tunisia overcame deep political divisions to draft a constitution that has majority support, while other countries in the region. Tunisias fragile democratic transition testimony of william r. The passage of tunisias new constitution on january 26, 2014, and the transi tion to a government of technocrats has in many ways hit a reset button on. The constitution of tunisia is the supreme law of the tunisian republic.
Nca recently passed the new tunisian constitution on 26 january and. The new tunisian constitution follows the modern trend to include a constitutional court to prevent backsliding to dictatorship, but constitutional 1 center for constitutional transitions and international idea, constitutional courts after the arab spring 2014, p. Tunisias revolution reached a milestone in late january when it passed a new constitution, setting a new course for the countrys future. Sana ben achour, womens rights activist and law student, stresses that this constitution is the first in the arab world to give all. Assessing tunisias new constitution 0502 2014 on 26 january 2014, the constitutional assembly of tunisia adopted a new constitution in the heartland of the arab spring. By voting for the tunisias new constitution in january 2014, the islamist party nahda accepted many principles that were in contradiction with islamist ideology. Following the revolution and months of protests starting in 2011, tunisias constituent assembly adopted a new constitution on 26 january 2014, considered a harbinger of change for gender equality in. Tunisia 2014 page 14 the state shall provide the necessary means to eradicate pollution of the environment. Tunisias struggle for political pluralism after ennahda. Mustapha ben jaafar, on his unique experience as the president of the tunisia national constituent assembly. Pdf on feb 12, 2014, mohamedsalah omri and others published the tunisian. This document constitutes a nonofficial translation of the text of the constitution submitted for adoption, in plenary session of the national constituent assembly, on january 26, 2014.
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