Tunisia Rejects Quotas in Parliament

[MHunterB]

http://www.jta.org/2013/03/28/news-opinion/world/tunisia-rejects-special-parliament-bloc-for-jews

"A Tunisian government committee rejected a proposal to allocate a bloc of seats in parliament to Jews.

The proposal, which had been opposed by Tunisia’s Jewish leadership, was rejected by the National Constituent Assembly’s committee on legislative and executive powers on the grounds that it would create unnecessary divisions among Tunisians, committee member Walid Bannani told Tunisia Live.

“This suggestion has no aim, and this is a civil country where the rights and duties of each citizen are determined according to their citizenship rather than looking at their religious basis,” Bannani said, according to Tunisia Live.


Read more: Tunisia rejects special parliament bloc for Jews | Jewish Telegraphic Agency

I found this very encouraging news, as it suggests the Tunisian government will be an actual democracy. I also find it encouraging that there is apparently to be no religious requirement about running for President there....

 

[waltky]

Opposition sets up alternate government...

Tunisia's Secularist Opposition to Unveil Alternative Government
August 10, 2013 — Tunisia's secular opposition will announce an alternative “salvation government” next week, a challenge the Islamist-led ruling coalition that could make it harder to negotiate a political compromise.

The head of the transitional parliament suspended the legislature's work last Tuesday until the government starts talks with the opposition which has been holding daily protests after the murder of two prominent secularist politicians. Emboldened by the army's toppling of Egypt's Islamist president, Tunisia's opposition wants to bring down the government led by the moderate Islamist party Ennahda, and on Saturday said it would announce an alternative cabinet in the coming days. “The consultations are continuing between the parties to the National Salvation Front, to choose a candidate for new prime minister and a salvation government,” Mongi Rahoui, a leading member of the opposition grouping, said.

A protester holds a banner reading " Nahda go away" during a demonstration against Tunisia's Islamist-led government

He said the candidate for prime minister would be announced early next week and cabinet members could be named by the end of the week. The Salvation Front is a coalition of more than a dozen opposition parties that came together after the murder of prominent secularist politician Mohamed Brahmi on July 25, six months after another leftist figure was gunned down. Opposition leaders have said they had no interest in reconciliation with Ennahda and have demanded it step down.

Ennahda's party chief Rachid Ghannouchi told Reuters in interview that the party was open to dialog but that removing Prime Minister Ali Larayedh or dissolving the Constituent Assembly were out of the question, and he challenged the opposition to a referendum to decide the matter. Tunisia is the birthplace of the “Arab Spring” revolts across the Middle East that began with a 2011 uprising that toppled autocratic leader Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Tunisia's Secularist Opposition to Unveil Alternative Government

 

[waltky]

Arab Spring workin' out in Tunisia...

Tunisia Approves New Constitution, Appoints Government
January 26, 2014 — Tunisia's national assembly approved the country's new constitution on Sunday in one of the final steps to full democracy three years after protests erupted into an uprising that toppled autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Just before the constitution's approval, Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa named a new caretaker cabinet appointed to ease a crisis between Islamists and secular opposition until new elections later this year. Tunisia's compromise and progress contrasts sharply with messy democratic transitions in Libya, Egypt and Yemen which are caught up in turmoil after ousting their own long-standing leaders in 2011 revolts and uprisings. After their historic vote, the red and white Tunisian flag was unfurled and assembly deputies embraced each other inside the chamber in the capital Tunis.

This constitution was the dream of Tunisians, this constitution is proof of the revival of the revolution, this constitution creates a democratic civil nation,'' Assembly chief Mustapha Ben Jaafar said. One of the most secular countries in the Arab World, Tunisia struggled after its revolt with divisions over the role of Islam and the rise of ultra-conservative Salafists, who secularists feared would try to roll back liberal rights.

Tunisia's Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa speaks during a news conference in Tunis

The assassination of two opposition leaders by Islamist militants last year pitched the small North African country into crisis with the ruling moderate Islamist party Ennahda under pressure to step down from secular opponents. After months of protests and deadlock, Ennahda agreed late last year to step aside for a caretaker administration of nonpolitical appointments that would govern until elections.

Jomaa, an engineer and former minister appointed as premier in December, on Sunday named his cabinet with key posts given to technocrats with international experience. Hakim Ben Hammouda, an economist with experience at the African Development Bank, was named finance minister and Mongi Hamdi, a former U.N. official, as his foreign minister. "The objective is to arrive at elections and create the security and economic climate to get out of this crisis,'' Jomaa told reporters.

No date has been set for elections but they will be held later this year with Ennahda and key opposition alliance Nidaa Tounes likely to battle for the government. Jomaa's new cabinet will have to tackle demands from international lenders to cut public spending and curb the budget deficit without triggering protests over social welfare. Islamist militants, tied to al Qaida operations in North Africa, are also an increasing threat for a country that relies heavily on European tourism and overseas remittances for its hard currency income.

Tunisia Approves New Constitution, Appoints Government