Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Essid nominated as Prime Minister, critics fear mounts

President Beji Caid Essebsi has tasked Habib Essid to form a government that would administer the affairs of the state for the next five years. He should form a government within a month and seek the parliament’s approval. The leftist Popular Front is not pleased with the nomination. 65 year old Essid is an agricultural […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Tensions remain encircled between presidential candidates

Tunisians will be going to the polls on Sunday to elect their next leader. Moncef Marzouki and Beji Caid Essebsi will face each other in the second of voting. Campaigning has been so far peaceful and Tunisians are hoping that that it will persist after the announcement of the election results. Unlike other countries that […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Presidential final round slated for 21 December

21 December has been chosen by the electoral body as the date that will assemble Tunisians at voting stations to elect their new president in the last round of the presidential elections. The last two presidential candidates, Moncef Marzouki and Beji Caid Essebsi, will begin their official campaign on Tuesday 9 December. The ISIE is […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Parliament holds inaugural session, political tussles begin

Ahead of the Presidential elections later on this month, attention in Tunisia has shifted to the parliament’s first session. The newly elected 217 members of the parliament were present to honor the inaugural session which was also marked by a speech by the president of the outgoing interim assembly, Mustapha Ben Jaffar. The parliamentary elections […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia : Nidaa Touness to govern with “democratic family”

With secular party Nida Tounes poised to win the parliamentary elections ahead of the official results expected to be announced before Friday, the debate over a coalition led government has emerged. Moderate Islamist party Ennahda is considered to be the runners-up of the elections and could therefore assure a stable government but Beji Caid Essebsi, […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia : Ennahda gives way to Nidaa Tounes

Despite warnings that the crucial parliamentary elections could be sabotaged by jihadist groups, Tunisians came out in their numbers to vote. The process which was peaceful throughout the country is being hailed as a very important step towards democracy. Official results are not yet announced but Ennahda has already admitted that it has lost to […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia : Campaign enters its final days

Political parties vying for legislative seats in the elections to be held on Sunday have been campaigning for votes within the country. Sunday’s parliamentary vote will elect the 217-member assembly, and that will chose a new prime minister to lead the government to replace Tunisia’s caretaker administration. Presidential elections will be held in November. Tunisians […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia : Ennahda seeks US support ahead of elections

Ennahda has begun seeking for external support ahead of the legislative elections scheduled to be held in October and the presidential elections in November. The leader of the party, Rached Ghannouchi, currently in the US said Tunisia will be an example for the Middle East as its transition towards democracy reaches its final stages. Ghannouchi […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Parliamentary and presidential elections decided, MPs agree

Members of the Tunisian parliament have finally agreed on the days to be set aside for the parliamentary and presidential elections. The country’s transition towards democracy after the departure of President Ben Ali has been challenging. A caretaker government has been overseeing the process after the Ennahda led coalition government was forced to step down. […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia : Parties support legislative and presidential election dates

Political parties in Tunisia tend to agree on the dates set aside by the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) for the legislative and presidential elections. Tunisia has been able to maneuver its way through the transition despite a couple of challenges from the Salafists and the tensions which resulted in the assassination of high […]