- You are here:
- Home
- › Travel & living abroad
- › Travel advice by country
- › Country profiles
- › Middle East and North Africa
- › Tunisia
Middle East and North Africa
Tunisia |
|
|
Last reviewed: 11 August 2009 |
Country information
POLITICS
The Head of State is a president, directly elected by universal adult suffrage. The president’s term of office is five years. On 26 May 2002, Tunisia held its first ever referendum on draft constitutional amendments. The figures released by the Tunisian authorities showed a 99.95% turnout and a 'yes' vote of 99.52%. These reforms, among other things, changed Presidential term limits, allowing President Ben Ali to stand again for the Presidency.
In the presidential elections of 24 October 2004, President Ben Ali was re-elected with 94.48% of the vote. There were three rival candidates. In legislative elections on the same day, the RCD, Tunisia’s ruling party, won 152 of the 189 seats in the sole parliamentary chamber, the Chamber of Deputies. Some opposition parties boycotted the elections.
The EU issued a declaration on the elections stating that 'while recognising that the Election Law safeguards female representation in parliament as well as minority views…the overall process leading to the elections on 24 October did not provide a level playing field for contenders'.
The next Presidential elections will be held in October 2009.
HUMAN RIGHTS
For over 30 years Tunisia has implemented a range of successful economic and social development policies. Economic growth and per capita incomes have increased steadily. Poverty levels have more than halved since 1975 and illiteracy rates among the under 16s have dropped to below 5%. Mortality rates for infants (under 5) have fallen from 20% in 1970 to 5% in 1990 and 2% in 2007. Women enjoy full rights to education and employment. There are, however, severe restrictions on individual rights and liberties, notably freedom of expression, access to information and freedom of association. The RCD, dominates political life and any opposition activity is heavily circumscribed. We regularly make our concerns known to the Tunisian authorities.
