EU criticizes Tunisia’s restructuring of election authority

ISTANBUL

The EU on Wednesday criticized Tunisia over a recent presidential decree to restructure the country’s election body, saying it “risks reducing its independence.”

In a statement, the European Union External Action Service (EEAS), the bloc’s diplomatic service, said the recently published decree to reform the Independent High Authority for Elections “risks reducing its independence” at an important political moment ahead of key votes in Tunisia, which will go to polls in July for a referendum on constitutional reforms and parliamentary elections in December.

The EU considers that the independence of the body is a crucial element in guaranteeing the credibility of an electoral process, the statement said, adding the bloc will follow with the greatest attention the appointments of the body’s future members so that they remain a guarantee of its independence and ability to carry out its mandate in complete transparency.

The European Union also stressed the importance of the implementation of any reform as well as the electoral calendar on the basis of an “inclusive dialogue” among all political and social actors to guarantee the stability and prosperity of Tunisia.

Formed in 2011, the Independent High Authority for Elections comprises nine independent members elected by the parliament based on a two-thirds majority vote.

However, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied last week issued a decree to appoint a new seven-member panel, including three judges and an information technology specialist.

The new decree also gives power to Saied to appoint the head of the election commission as well as to relieve any of the commission’s members.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis since July 25, 2021, when Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority, in a move decried by opponents as a “coup.”

The North African country is also going through a severe economic crisis aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic amid the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine.

Last month, Saied dissolved the suspended parliament, shortly after lawmakers convened a plenary session to overturn his measures.