Carter Center Commends Tunisia on Successful Completion of 2019 Electoral Process

(En français)

(بالعربية)

TUNIS, TUNISIA (Jan. 7, 2020) – In a statement released today, The Carter Center commended the Tunisian authorities and its people on the successful completion of the 2019 electoral process and urged Tunisian political leaders to move quickly to form a government before the one-month extension provided by the president expires Jan. 15, 2020.

Although the Independent High Authority for the Elections had the added challenge of a compressed timeframe for the elections because of the death in office of the president, Carter Center observers found that it conducted a credible electoral process for all three elections. Electoral authorities, civil society organizations, and political parties made concerted efforts that resulted in competitive polls that were carried out effectively. With the inauguration of the new president on Oct. 23 and the swearing in of the new parliament on Nov. 13, Tunisia set an example for the region and the world in conducting a peaceful democratic transition.

The statement covers events that occurred after the Center issued its preliminary election observation statements regarding the parliamentary and presidential elections, including tabulation and the dispute-resolution process.

Following the conclusion of the electoral process, the Center’s international election observation mission found that tabulation processes improved progressively from one election to another, and election dispute-resolution processes were conducted within the timelines allowed by law.

Although hearings at the Administrative Court were orderly and parties were given the opportunity to present their cases, the short deadlines did not allow lawyers sufficient time to prepare or present their cases, which affected the parties’ ability to support their claims with credible evidence and legal reasoning, and to seek effective legal remedy.

Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli; Ennahda, the leading political party in the new parliament, and other political parties represented in parliament should make a collective effort to finalize the formation of a government. Elected officials must find a way to set aside their political and ideological differences and forge inclusive solutions to the country’s difficult political and economic challenges that were the root cause of the 2011 Tunisian revolution. In addition, the new parliament and government should form the Constitutional Court and other independent constitutional authorities swiftly, including by replacing the three ISIE members whose mandates will expire in January.

Post Election Statement

Carter Center Commends Tunisia on Successful Completion of 2019 Electoral Process (PDF)

Translations

Le Centre Carter félicite la Tunisie pour la réussite du processus électoral de 2019
communiqué de presse | déclaration

مركز كارتر يثني على نجاح تونس في استكمال المسار الانتخابي لسنة 2019
بيان | خبر صحفى

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Contact
Soyia Ellison soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org
Don Bisson +216 58 608 980 or don.bisson@cartercenter.org

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.