Independents flood Tunisian elections
Hundreds of independent lists and parties are expected to run in this year’s parliamentary elections, which will now be held after the pushed-forward presidential contest.
It's no surprise that the death of President Beiji Caid Essebsi, which triggered an early presidential election, is causing a major shakeup in Tunisian democracy.
Following the president’s funeral, his son, Nidaa Tounes leader Hafedh Essebsi, said of his father’s decision not to sign the reformed electoral law, “It was not easy for him to not sign it,” and “It was a service to his people.”
This year’s elections — the second round of free elections since the 2011 revolution — will be the real test for Tunisia’s democracy and define its democratic structure.
Dissatisfaction and disappointment with the government by the Tunisian people have been well documented in the press with frequent strikes and demonstrations. According to a survey conducted by the International Republican Institute, 87% of responders believed the country was heading in the wrong direction politically, and 49% said that they were “very dissatisfied” with democracy in Tunisia.
