Zawaya

Tunisians put to the test with the first revolutionary elections

By: Jemal Mohamed Oumar

Monday, July 12, marked the beginning of voter registration in Tunisia, in preparation for October’s elections aimed to choose the members of the Tunisian National Council. These elections are the first of their kind since the overthrowing of President Zin el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Tunisians are looking forward to freely expressing their opinions in these decisive elections, which they depend on to make a break with the past, and form a State of freedom, justice, dignity and development, governed by the law and by institutions that respect the will of the Tunisian people.

Observers expect a high level of participation in the Tunisian elections, based on forecasts of the total number of voters. Chairman of the Tunisia’s independent election commission, Kamel Jendoubi, expects “the total number of voters in the Constituent Assembly elections on 23 October to reach 7.9 million, including Tunisians living abroad”. There are more than 400 registration offices, with more than 2,000 graduates in charge of registering voters, under a judicial supervision to monitor possible violations and abuses.

However, on the one hand, some groups question the upcoming elections, and are skeptical about the seriousness of the current government, and its ability to effectively monitor the elections in a transparent atmosphere. On the other hand, election advocates consider them a safety valve to establish a Tunisian democracy that will pave the way for other democracies in the Maghreb, supporting their stand with Tunisia’s political scene: a revolution based on a strong, conscious and alert nation that’s highly mobilized and supported by the national army; a government that includes both the opposition and independent parties; free media; and active associations and parties.

Some people claim that these democratic foundations wouldn’t have existed without the collapse of the RCD party, and the dismantling of security services.

To conclude, one can say that the interests of Tunisian citizens and authorities are intertwined, aiming to establish a genuine democracy. The Tunisian State needs a new Constitution that can only be drafted by an elected Council. Therefore, the elite and people should focus on the elections, and emphasize on the integrity and independence of the electoral commission in order to conduct free and fair elections, and ensure the participation of everybody.

Political parties should organize mobilization activities and campaigns in their branches and headquarters, in order to raise the awareness of voters about the importance of participating in the elections.

The elite should participate in mobilizing citizens, as well as monitoring and putting pressure on the government to carry out a democratic transition.