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Tunisian Minister of Communication Technology Nizar Bennaji announced that the electronic consultation approved by President Kais Saied will start today, Saturday, on a trial basis for a period of two weeks, to be officially opened to the public on the 15th of this month. This consultation is devoted to collecting the proposals of Tunisians on the reforms presented by the President of the Republic.
Today, the ministry launched an electronic platform dedicated to what the President of the Republic called “the popular consultation on constitutional reforms,” and Minister Bennaji explained – in a radio statement – that “the national consultation is launched today in a trial period that extends over two weeks in a first stage to evaluate the system, to be modified later.” Based on a set of deficiencies and observations, it will then be released to the public starting in the middle of this month.
Qais Saeed had announced that a specialized committee would later formulate the results of this consultation in the form of legal and constitutional proposals. This electronic popular consultation is intended for the people to present ideas that form the basis for constitutional amendments, an unusual mechanism that reflects – according to Saeed’s critics – his “populist” methods.
A message to Tunisians
On the main page of the consultation website (www.e-istichara.tn), the following can be read: “Because your opinion is important for reform and construction, we have worked to develop a national platform that enables Tunisians at home and abroad to express their views on major issues related to political and electoral affairs, economic and financial affairs, social affairs, development and digital transition, health and quality of life, and educational and cultural affairs.
In order to participate in the consultation, Internet users are required to register on the site with their identity card, and request a secret code sent to them via a text message on their phones.
This consultation comes in a political and economic crisis in Tunisia, as President Said dismissed the prime minister, dissolved the government, and froze the work of Parliament on July 25, 2021, according to exceptional measures that also included lifting the immunity of members of Parliament and abolishing the constitutionality control body of laws. The Tunisian president has also suspended parts of the constitution, and has since governed by decree, despite protests by opponents, organizations, and associations.
roadmap
On December 13, Saeed revealed a road map to get out of the crisis, which stipulates holding legislative elections in December 2022 after reviewing the electoral law, and a referendum in July 2022 to amend the constitution, which he wants more “presidential,” at the expense of Parliament.
Last Thursday, the “Citizens Against the Coup” initiative called on the Tunisian people to boycott the consultation called by President Said, accusing him of employing state institutions in the face of his opponents.
The initiative said that it is coordinating with all political forces to make the current day of January 14 a significant day against what it describes as the coup, and member of the initiative, Habib Bouajila, confirmed that “the coup employs state institutions in its struggle with its opponents.”
The Republican Party in Tunisia (centrist, and has no seats in Parliament) said – last Thursday – that it refuses to “harness the capabilities of the state to implement President Said’s political project,” after the “Citizens Against the Coup” initiative called for a boycott of the consultation called for by the president.
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