Tunisia’s second round of elections for the Parliament’s House of Representatives is set to take place on Sunday, after inconclusive first-round results last month.
Tunisians in 133 constituencies will be voting in Sunday’s runoffs for representatives in the newly established two-chamber parliamentary system set up under the new constitution. The vote will be for members of the House of Representatives while a date for elections to the second chamber, the National Council of Regions and Districts, has yet to be set.
Since the suspension — and later dissolution — of the previous parliament, Tunisian President Kais Saied has ruled the country through executive decrees as part of what he calls a state of exceptional measures.
After a meeting between Mr Saied and the Minister of Interior, Taoufik Charfeddine, the Tunisian Presidency released a statement on its Facebook page.
“The president of the republic emphasised the need for all concerned parties to adhere to the principle of complete neutrality so that voters could freely express their will,” it said.
Many of Tunisia’s established parties have called for a boycott of the election, saying the political system, which was established under a constitution passed in a referendum with only 30 per cent turnout, was undemocratic.
But despite his previous boycott of the constitutional referendum and his partial disapproval of the new Tunisian constitution, final round candidate Malik Kammoun, 26, said he shared Mr Saied’s vision for the country’s political system.
“After my initial boycott of the referendum, I realised that my ‘No’ would not change anything,” Mr Kammoun, candidate for the Sakiet Zit constituency of Sfax governorate, told The National.
The political science researcher believes Tunisia’s former ‘hybrid’ [semi-presidential, semi-parliamentary] political system is what led the country into political crisis — hence a system that focuses on people instead of parties is something that resonates with him.
“We need the parliament to retrieve its power and to reassume its role as a tool that enshrines local decision-making,” he said.
Tunisians vote in referendum on constitution - in pictures
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Tunisian President Kais Saied (2-R) celebrating with his supporters the almost certain victory of the 'yes' vote in a referendum on a new constitution, after the projected outcome was announced in Tunis. EPA -
President Kais Saied celebrates with his supporters on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, Tunis. The referendum was on a new constitution that strengthens the powers of the head of state. AFP -
President Kais Saied supporters celebrate. Reuters -
President Kais Saied supporters celebrate in Tunis after the exit poll indicates voters backed Tunisia's new constitution. Reuters -
Farouk Bouasker, president of the Independent Higher Authority for Elections, in Tunis. AFP -
Members of the election committee open the ballot box at a polling station in Tunis. Reuters -
Employees of the Independent Higher Authority for Elections begin counting the ballots. AFP -
Tunisia's President Kais Saied casts his ballot at a polling station in Tunis in the country's referendum on a new constitution. Reuters -
A woman shows her ink-stained finger at a polling station during a referendum on a new constitution in Tunis, Tunisia. Reuters -
A Tunisian woman votes during a referendum on the draft constitution put forward by the country's president at a polling station in the Ben Arous region near Tunis. AFP -
A woman shows her ink-stained finger as she holds the Tunisian flag at a polling station in Tunis. Reuters -
A Tunisian woman votes during the referendum in the Ben Arous region near Tunis. AFP -
A Tunisian man votes during the referendum at a polling station in the Ben Arous region near Tunis. AFP -
A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Tunis. AP -
Mr Saied leaves the polling station with his wife. Tunisia is holding a referendum on a new draft constitution proposed by the president to replace the 2014 constitution. EPA -
Tunisians go to the polls on Monday to vote on a draft constitution proposed by President Kais Saied. Here, a vote is cast at a polling station in the capital, Tunis. AFP -
Some Tunisians see the constitutional referendum as a vote for or against President Kais Saied, whose powers would increase if the new charter is approved. AFP -
People cast their ballots at a polling station in Tunis on a referendum on a new constitution for Tunisia. Reuters -
In a polling station in the Ariana district of Tunis, a citizen dips his finger in ink after taking part in a referendum on a draft constitution. AFP -
Tunisians vote in a referendum on a draft constitution put forward by the country's President Kais Saied. The text has proved to be controversial and citizens have their say on Monday. AFP -
A member of Tunisian security forces stands guard outside a polling station in Ariana district of Tunis. AFP -
Tunisian election staff assist voters at a polling station in the Ariana district as citizens vote on a new constitution. AFP -
Members of Tunisian security forces stand guard outside a polling station in Ariana district of Tunis. AFP
Tunisia’s electoral law was changed through a decree issued by Mr Saied in September, with one major change being that voters now cast ballots for individual candidates instead of party lists.
The system has been the target of criticism in the past few months, with several political parties accusing the legislature of excluding them.
“The law did not exclude parties, some of them decided to boycott and that’s different,” Mr Kammoun said.
“All political parties today need to subject themselves to auto-critique instead of insisting on failure and playing the role of heroes."
For the young candidate, his mission is as difficult as it gets with Tunisians losing faith and trust in the nation's politicians.
“My constituency has over 140,000 residents, if I only manage to restore faith in political action in my region, I believe that the general status quo would change,” Mr Kammoun told The National.
“Our country needs reconstruction, not only reform. If the president chose to walk that way, I would walk with him. However, if he does not and continues to be as dogmatic as he is now, I will not think twice about standing up to him.”
With an economic crisis affecting the daily lives of citizens, critics doubt the election of a new parliament will bring the solutions the people hope for and the country needs.
