Tunisia

Assembly of People's Representatives National Council of Regions and Districts

Assembly of People's Representatives

Political system: Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 17 Dec 2022 to 29 Jan 2023
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: No information available
Timing of election: No information available
Expected date of next elections: 31 Dec 2027
Number of seats at stake: 161
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 9,136,502
Voters: 1,025,418
Voter turnout: 11.2%

Results

About the election: Snap elections to the new 161-member Assembly of People's Representatives in 2022 and 2023 followed political turmoil, which began in July 2021. That year, President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and his government, and suspended the then 217-member Assembly of People’s Representatives (see note 1). Many opposition parties boycotted the 2022–2023 elections. The polls were held under a new constitution, which had been ratified by a referendum in July 2022 (see note 2). A two-round system (instead of list proportional representation) was applied. Most of the 1,050 candidates stood as independents (see note 3). Only 11% of 9 million registered voters turned out in the first round of elections. In all, 25 women were elected. On 13 March, the newly elected parliament held its first session, thereby restoring the legislature after a suspension of nearly two years. The parliament elected Mr. Brahim Bouderbala, a close ally of President Saied, as its new Speaker.

Note 1:

The President also took on executive authority, citing “necessary measures” in line with Article 80 of the Constitution. Speaker Rached Ghannouchi said that Parliament’s suspension was “unconstitutional” and “illegal”. Several MPs were subsequently arrested. In August 2021, President Saied extended the suspension of Parliament via Decree No. 2021 109. In September, the President issued Presidential Decree No. 2021-117, which concentrates all the powers of the State in the President. In December 2021, President Saied announced a roadmap for a political transition, calling a constitutional referendum on 25 July 2022 and parliamentary elections for 17 December 2022.

Note 2:

According to the final results announced by the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), 30.5% of some 9 million registered voters turned out at the referendum, and 94.6% of them voted to approve the new Constitution (a “yes” vote). On 17 August 2022, President Saied ratified the new Constitution, under which the government answers to the President and not to Parliament. Parliament comprises the existing Assembly of People's Representatives and a new National Council of Regions and Districts. Each regional council elects three members to the National Council, while each district council elects one member. Article 141 of the Constitution allows President Saied to continue to rule as per the September 2021 decree until the new Parliament is established.

Note 3:

A new election law released by the President in September 2022 effectively limits the influence of political parties in elections. It stipulates that, while political parties can still run in elections, candidates' applications must be submitted individually rather than as party-issued candidate lists.

As at 25 May 2023, the Assembly of People's Representatives comprises 154 members, of whom 115 had joined the following six parliamentary blocs:

- Voice of the Republic: 25

- National independent bloc: 21

- Honesty and labour: 20

- Free bloc: 19

- National sovereign line: 15

- People’s triumph: 15

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 129
Number of women elected: 25
Percentage of women elected: 16.2%
Women Directly Elected: 25
Other notes on the elections: Note on the statutory number of members:

Decree No. 2022-55 of 15 September 2022 stipulates that the Assembly of People's Representatives comprises a total of 161 members who are all elected from single-member constituencies (article 106 bis). The Decree also provides that 151 are elected in Tunisia and 10 are elected from constituencies abroad (article 106 ter).

In the 2022–2023 elections, seven of the 10 seats were not filled due to lack of candidates. Consequently, there were 154 members (including 25 women) when the newly elected Assembly of People’s Representatives convened on 13 March 2023.

Note on the new electoral system:

Article 107 (new) of the same Decree provides for the Two-Round System (TRS), instead of List Proportional Representation (List PR). In accordance with article 110 (new), if a candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first round, she or he is elected. If no one obtains an absolute majority at that stage, a second round of elections (involving the two leading candidates from the first round) is organized within two weeks of the proclamation of the final result of the first round. The candidate who obtains a majority in the second round is then elected.
Sources: Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations Office at Geneva (09.03.2023)

https://www.isie.tn/

BBC Monitoring

Reuters

https://www.businessnews.com.tn

https://www.lemonde.fr

https://legislation-securite.tn/law/105346

https://www.tuniscope.com

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 129
Total number of women after the election: 25
Percentage of women after the election: 16.2%
First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available
Date of the first session: 13 Mar 2023

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Brahim Bouderbala (Male)
Date of birth: 07 Aug 1952
Date of election: 13 Mar 2023

Updated at	Structure of parliament
2024-04	Bicameral
-	Unicameral