It is nevertheless surprising that the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) does not yet know the exact date of the next presidential election which should be held next autumn, that is to say in only four months.
We are content to express our astonishment, so as not to say anything else that would earn us legal action from the electoral commission, whose management seems to no longer tolerate criticism and is making this known by bringing proceedings against those who denounce certain of its practices or decisions.
We are surprised by the statement made yesterday, Thursday, June 27, 2024, by Najla Abrougui, a member of the Isie who told the official agency Tap that the date of the first round of the next presidential elections will take place on October 6, 13, or 20, 2024 (appreciate the precision!), adding that the deadline for the President of the Republic to call the elections is July 20. She is thus passing the buck to the tenant of the Carthage Palace, whose term should normally end before the end of this year, and who has not yet clearly stated his intention to run for his succession, even if all his actions and statements suggest it.
So, while waiting for the Head of State to finally deign to lift the mystery both about the date of the next presidential elections and about his intentions to run, the members of Isie are preparing for this meeting with all the diligence and seriousness required.
This is how the electoral commission began, on Wednesday, June 26, the examination of the draft revision of its decision n°20 of 2014, dated August 8, 2014, relating to the rules, procedures, and methods of financing the campaign electoral, pending its subsequent approval, as explained by Ms. Abrougui in her statement to Tap.
The Isie board of directors unanimously agreed to adopt the criminal record (Bulletin No. 3) as a prerequisite for candidacy in the presidential elections, to verify that potential candidates enjoy their civil and civil rights. political and are not involved in any of the electoral offenses provided for in articles 161 and 163 of the Electoral Code. These offenses, remember, are punishable by prison sentences for preventing voters from exercising their right to vote or from receiving foreign financing.
Regarding the conditions for accepting applications, Ms. Abrougui indicated that the members of the Isie board of directors unanimously agreed to adopt the obligation to collect guarantees from 10 districts, with a minimum of 500 guarantees per district.
Regarding parliamentary support, it was agreed to limit the number of support to 10 members of the Assembly of People’s Representatives, 10 members of the National Council of Regions and Districts, or 40 elected councils (local, regional, and district).
Ms. Abrougui added that Isie will prepare a model for the candidate’s approval document, which will be published on the commission’s website to avoid any manipulation or fraud.
The commission will also develop an application to control proxies, especially as the Tunisian justice system is still examining 236 cases linked to fraudulent proxies during the legislative elections of 2014, 2019, and 2022.
The commission will ensure that candidates do not receive foreign, suspicious, or anonymous financing, she added, a task which will be carried out with the help of control bodies, including the Tunisian Commission for Financial Analysis (Ctaf). reporting to the Central Bank of Tunisia.
