Tunisian president grants himself power to appoint election authority
The presidential decree to revise the law of the Independent High Authority for Elections in Tunisia and change its composition is facing widespread criticism from opposition parties and organizations that accuse Tunisian President Kais Saied of granting himself wide powers that may affect the course of democracy.
TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisian President Kais Saied’s measures continue to spark criticism among Tunisians.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page on April 27, the Social Democratic Path (Al-Massar) party said that Independent High Authority for Elections (known by its French acronym, ISIE) is part of “the gains of the revolution of freedom and dignity, and its law needs to be amended in a way that enhances its independence and keeps it clear of any partisan bickering and quotas.”
The party further denounced the unilateral approach adopted by Saied in which he is implementing his personal project without involving political parties and national and civil society organizations.
Al-Massar’s statement came against the backdrop of Saied issuing a presidential decree on April 22 granting himself the power to appoint the head of the ISIE and its members before the popular referendum on constitutional amendments scheduled for July 25. According to the decree, “The ISIE Board is composed of seven members who are appointed by presidential order.”
