Tunisian president to change constitution, organize early legislative elections

Hanen Jebli

Dec 22, 2021

This picture taken on Dec. 13, 2021, shows a TV screen in Tunisia's capital, Tunis, displaying an announcement by Tunisian President Kais Saied. — This picture taken on Dec. 13, 2021, shows a TV screen in Tunisia's capital, Tunis, displaying an announcement by Tunisian President Kais Saied, in which he said that the Tunisian parliament would remain suspended until elections set for December 2022 are held and that a referendum on constitutional reforms would be held in July of that year. — FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images

TUNIS — Tunisian President Kais Saied announced in a Dec. 13 speech to the Tunisian people that the Tunisian parliament, suspended since July 25 by presidential decree, will remain suspended until legislative elections are held on Dec. 17, 2022. He also announced a three-month popular consultation with the Tunisian people via electronic and direct platforms from Jan. 1 to March 20 in order to draft constitutional reforms based on popular propositions.

Saied indicated that any constitutional reform projects will be put to a referendum on July 25. He further stated that early legislative elections will be organized based on the new electoral law.

The president also announced reforms to the penal code. He stressed that the first individuals to be held accountable would be those involved “in cases that affect the state.”

He called for the prosecution of all those who have committed crimes against the Tunisian state and continue to do so.

Tunisian president to change constitution, organize early legislative elections

Tunisian President Kais Saied announced yet another set of measures for holding a referendum on constitutional reforms and parliamentary elections.

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