Tunisia's President Kais Saied revealed on Thursday the proposed draft of a new constitution, which will be put to a referendum vote on July 25.
The new document, released in the official gazette, makes sweeping changes to Tunisia's governmental structure as it enshrines a purely presidential system that gives greater powers to the executive and introduces a new legislative body, the National Council of Regions and Districts.
If approved by popular vote, the document will replace Tunisia's historic 2014 constitution, composed over two years of negotiations in a constituent assembly and national dialogue after the 2011 revolution that ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from his 23-year rule over the country.
Overhauling the 2014 constitution has been a primary focus for Mr Saied, a former adjunct constitutional law professor, who says it is a “course correction of the revolutionary path”.
After two years in the presidency, Mr Saied seized sole control of the government last July during a Covid crisis and dysfunction in Parliament.
He has since made moves to consolidate power in his own hands, including dissolving Parliament, suspending the constitution and reappointing the high judicial council and the independent electoral commission.
The proposed new constitution further strengthens the role of the president, who would alone control the executive branch, and would appoint a first minister to assist him — a shift from the current power-sharing structure between the president, prime minister and speaker of Parliament.
Ibrahim Bouderbela, a member of the committee that drafted the new document, told The National that the new system would enable greater accountability in government.
“In past governments, political parties that were elected did not assume responsibility for their actions. In the new system, the president will be at the head of the government and assume responsibility in failure and success alike,” he said.
The document also introduces a new legislative body, the National Council of Regions and Districts, which would work alongside Parliament to approve or reject proposed legislation put forward by the president.
The council would comprise members appointed from a series of larger, local councils, a long-time political vision of Mr Saied.
“Through this constitution, the Tunisian people will find themselves included in the decision-making process in the country,” Mr Bouderbela said.
The new document was drafted over the course of about three weeks in May and June by a small committee of legal scholars selected by Mr Saied.
Several key players, including the General Tunisian Labour Union (UGTT) — part of the quartet that won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for their role in salvaging the 2014 constitution — and the association of deans of the law schools, rejected their appointment to the constitutional advisory committee, saying the dialogue was not inclusive.
“We reject any formal dialogue in which roles are determined unilaterally and from which civil and political forces are excluded,” UGTT spokesman Sami Tahri said.
Earlier this year, a “digital consultation” to inform the constitution-writing process, which surveyed Tunisians about their opinions on social, political and economic issues, attracted a paltry turnout.
“The future of Tunisia is in the hands of Tunisians and it is their intensive participation that will pave the way towards a new stage in the history of Tunisia based on the real popular will and not on fake legitimacy,” Mr Saied said in January at the consultation’s launch.
Less than 7 per cent of eligible voters participated.
Opposition to Mr Saied and his proposed constitution has grown in recent months. Many political parties are calling for a boycott of the referendum in hopes of stripping it of its legitimacy.
The outcome of the vote, regardless of turnout, will be legally binding.
Mr Bouderbela said: “In order to secure legitimacy, I believe we'd need to see at least half of eligible voters participate.”
The Independent High Electoral Commission reported that 9.2 million voters have been registered in an election that is set to cost 50 million Tunisian dinars ($16.2 million).
The proposed constitution and the referendum to ratify it come as Tunisia's economy continues a downwards spiral, with inflation and prices of consumer goods rising, purchasing power on the decline and state finances in ruins.
Last week, the International Monetary Fund said it would enter formal negotiations with Tunisia over a multibillion-dollar loan that could temporarily shore up the country's faltering foreign currency reserves and help it pay off its debts.
To secure the loan, Mr Saied's government has put forward a plan that would slash subsidies for food and fuel, trim the public sector wage bill, and privatise loss-making state-owned enterprises.
Rejection of the terms of the IMF deal has been widespread. A nationwide strike of hundreds of thousands of public sector workers on June 16 grounded flights, stalled public transport and closed government offices. The UGTT has called for a second strike in the coming days.
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km