Assembly of the Representatives of the People

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Assembly of the People's Representatives

مجلس نواب الشعب

Majlis Nuwwāb esh-Sha‘b
2nd legislature
Coat of arms of Tunisia.svg
Type
Type
History
Preceded byConstituent Assembly of Tunisia
New session started
13 November 2019 (2019-11-13)
Elections
Voting system
Party-list proportional representation using multi-member constituencies
Last election
6 October 2019
Meeting place
Constituent Assembly, 2012
Bardo Palace, Le Bardo (near Tunis)
Website
www.arp.tn

The Assembly of the People's Representatives (Arabic: مجلس نواب الشعب Majlis Nuwwāb ash-Sha‘b, French: Assemblée des représentants du peuple; ARP) is Tunisia's legislative branch of government. The unicameral Assembly replaced the Constituent Assembly and was first elected on 26 October 2014.[1] The legislature consists of 217 seats.[2] Before the 2011 revolution, Tunisia's parliament was bicameral and consisted of an upper chamber called the Chamber of Advisors and a lower chamber called the Chamber of Deputies.

Tunisia's electoral law requires "vertical gender parity", i.e. male and female candidates must alternate within each party's regional list of candidates. Consequently, as of 2015, 68 of the chamber's members are women, the highest proportion of female legislative representatives in the Arab world.[3]

The current of the Assembly is Rached Ghannouchi, who was elected on 13 November 2019.[4]

Elections[]

The first elections to the Assembly were held on 26 October 2014, slightly under four years since the conclusion of the Tunisian Revolution, and slightly under three years since the election to the Constituent Assembly. Nidaa Tounes gained a plurality of votes, winning 85 seats in the 217-seat parliament, beating the Ennahda Movement (69 seats) and many smaller parties.

2019 Election[]

The second elections to the Assembly were held on 6 October 2019.


Suspension of Parliament on 25 July 2021[]

On 25 July 2021, in light of violent demonstrations against the government demanding the improvement of basic services and amid a growing COVID-19 outbreak, Saied suspended parliament for thirty days and waiving the immunity of the parliament members and ordering the military to close the parliament house.

On 24 August 2021, Saied extended the suspension of parliament, although the constitution states the parliament can only be suspended for a month, raising concerns in some quarters about the future of democracy in the country. There is currently no constitutional court in Tunisia to offer jurisdiction in his interpretation of the constitution.

On 22 September, Saied announced that he will rule by decree and ignore parts of the constitution.

On 13 December 2021, Saied extended the suspension of the parliament until a new election takes place, and announced a nationwide public consultation that would take place from 1 January until 20 March 2022 to gather suggestions for constitutional and other reforms after which Saied would appoint a committee of experts to draft a new constitution, to be ready by June ahead of the referendum that will take place on 25 July 2022. He said that new parliamentary elections will be held on 17 December 2022, after going through the referendum and preparing a new electoral system.[5]

Current affiliations[]

Affiliation Members
2019 election
results
As of
February 2020
Ennahda Movement 52 Steady
Heart of Tunisia 38 Steady
Democratic Current 22 Steady
Dignity Coalition 21 19
Free Destourian Party 17 Steady
People's Movement 15 Steady
Tahya Tounes 14 Steady
Machrouu Tounes 4 Steady
Errahma 4 2
3 Steady
Tunisian Alternative 3 Steady
Nidaa Tounes 3 Steady
Afek Tounes 2 Steady
Popular Front 1 Steady
Aïch Tounsi 1 Steady
Farmers' Voice Party 1 Steady
Green League 1 Steady
Current of Love 1 Steady
(VDS-PR-MDS) 1 Steady
1 Steady
Independent 12 Steady
Dissidents 4
Total members 217

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Tunisian elections intensify focus on alliances". Al Monitor. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Tunisia begins landmark election race". AFP. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Tunisia". freedomhouse.org. 21 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Tunisia parliament elects Ennahda's Rachid Ghannouchi as speaker". Al Jazeera. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Tunisian president announces constitutional referendum in 2022".

Coordinates: 36°48′31″N 10°08′07″E / 36.8087°N 10.1353°E / 36.8087; 10.1353


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