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Tunisian PM says municipal elections to be held by 2016

Xinhua, September 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid announced on Thursday that his government is working on holding Municipal Elections across the country before the end of 2016.

Essid declared that there has been significant progress regarding the legislation of electoral laws which would organize the process.

During a round table held by the Independent Elections Body (ISIE) on Thursday, head of the ISIE, Chafik Sarsar presented the committee's timeline, and its roadmap for the Municipal Elections.

Based on the preliminary information, the Municipal Elections can be held on October 30, 2016.

However, Sarsar explained that the proposed date would only be realistic, if the government finishes municipality mapping across the country, and implements the Municipal Electoral Law by April of 2016.

According to ISIE, a draft law of the Electoral Law should be submitted to Parliament by November 2015, and passed by February 2016.

The committee's roadmap proposes July of 2016 as the period of registering voters, and launching electoral campaigns.

These Municipal Elections are considered to be a part of Tunisia's democratic transition; under the former regime of toppled President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, municipal elections were based on nepotism, partisanship, and corruption.

The 2016 Municipal Elections are expected to be recognized as the first transparent and free municipal elections in Tunisia. Endit