Tunisia: Statement by the pre-electoral delegation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

Strasbourg, 16.09.2011 - A delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has made a pre-electoral visit to Tunis to evaluate the electoral campaign prior to elections to Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly on 23 October 2011. The delegation met Mouldi Kefi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ridha Bellhadj, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, Yadh Ben Achour, President of the Higher Political Reform Commission, the leaders of the main political parties taking part in the elections, the Secretary General of the Higher Independent Body for Elections, as well as representatives of the international community and non-governmental organisations.

The pre-electoral delegation notes with satisfaction that the Tunisian authorities have swiftly devised a legal framework for organising pluralist elections and, in this respect, it encourages them to step up cooperation with the Council of Europe's Venice Commission. The effective and transparent functioning of electoral administration is a decisive factor in guaranteeing the democratic nature of the entire electoral process and strengthening the confidence of political players and citizens in the elections.

Democratic elections mean more than the proper running of the ballot itself. The delegation has been informed of the delay in drawing up voter lists, concerns over the organisation of voting for Tunisian citizens living abroad and the possible risk of tensions during the electoral campaign. In this connection, the Parliamentary Assembly delegation calls on the country's political leaders to refrain from any aggressive rhetoric, pressure or actions contrary to European standards for fair and democratic elections and to comply with the Code of good practice in the field of political parties.

The pre-electoral delegation welcomes the diversity of media in the country and hopes that coverage of the election campaign will be balanced and detached from political leanings. Concerning the funding of political parties, the delegation considers that current legislation must be applied in good faith.

The pre-electoral delegation welcomes the willingness of the Tunisian authorities to allow a large number of national and international observers to monitor the National Constituent Assembly elections. It considers that the role of international observers is to make the international community's experience available to Tunisian society and monitor the proper running of the elections, but in no circumstances to interfere in the electoral process or lecture on how elections should be held.

The elections of 23 October will be the first free elections since Tunisia's independence in 1956. In this connection, the pre-electoral delegation wishes to underline the crucial importance of democratically electing a National Constituent Assembly to ensure the legitimacy of its power. That legitimacy is absolutely vital for forming the institutions of a democratic and functional State so that the efforts of the public authorities may then focus on resolving the urgent problems facing the citizens of Tunisia.

The pre-electoral delegation praises the considerable efforts made by the Commission chaired by Mr Yadh Ben Achour and the agreement signed on 15 September by the leaders of 11 political parties with a view to guaranteeing a democratic transition of power after the elections of 23 October 2011.

The Parliamentary Assembly will send a 20-member delegation to observe the elections to the National Constituent Assembly on 23 October 2011.

Pre-electoral delegation members:

Andreas Gross (Switerland, SOC), Head of delegation

Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD)

Christophe Chope (United Kingdom, EDG)

Anne Brasseur ( UEL, France)

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