Daily Podcast May 16th, 2012

Today is May 16th, 2012, and these are the top stories from Tunisia:

Italian President Begins Two-Day Visit to Tunisia

Today, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano began a two-day diplomatic visit to Tunisia. Following his arrival, Napolitano was welcomed by the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Rafik Abdessalam and Minister of Women’s Affairs Sihem Badi. Later today, Napolitano will meet with President Moncef Marzouki and then the head of the Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafer. According to Mohamed [...]

Tunisians Favor Five-Day Work Week in Recent Poll

Tunisian Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Reform Mohamed Abbou stated that the primary results of a national online poll concerning the country’s administrative schedule support a 5-day work week. The online survey, an unprecedented initiative for Tunisian ministries, was launched on March 22 and ended on May 4. According to TAP, Abbou announced that the final [...]

Reform Front Party: Tunisia’s First Salafist Party

The Reform Front Party, a Tunisian Islamist party, was licensed as an official political party on March 29, 2012 by the administration of the tripartite coalition government – comprised of Ennahdha, CPR, and Ettakatol. Mohamed Belkhouja is the leader of the party, which follows a Salafist ideology, or one based on an ultra-conservative interpretation of [...]

Aridha Chaabia – Popular Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development- ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????????

The People’s Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development party was created by the independent political writer and media figure, Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi on March 17, 2011. Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi was born in the province of Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia. He received his BA in Arabic Language and Literature from the Faculty of Arts, University of Tunis in 1985. Subsequently, he completed his postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Oriental and [...]

Ettakatol РForum D̩mocratique pour le Travail et les Libert̩s Р?????? ?????????? ?? ??? ????? ????????

Ettakatol (Ar. “Coalescence”), also known as the Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties (FDTL),  was founded in 1994 by Mustapha Ben Jaafar, who is now the party’s Secretary General. The party was legalized in 2002 and remained marginalized during Ben Ali’s era, like many other opposition parties.  It was rarely represented in the Parliament and often had [...]

Tunisian Civil Society Records 6,000 Cases of Electoral Violations

After the October 23rd Constituent Assembly elections, Tunisian observers have been more critical than international observers of the transparency of the electoral process. Final results came out depicting a political scene characterized by the domination of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party and the emergence of Al Aridha Chaabia (The Popular Petition) as a prominent actor that [...]

Ennahda Wins Constituent Assembly Elections

After the announcement of the results of Tunisians’ abroad, Ennahdha seems to be the leading party in all districts.

Tunisian Election Results Tables

Find below the results from the Tunisian elections held October 23rd, 2011 (international results are at the bottom). The Constituent Assembly will appoint a new transitional government and draft a new consitution. The international world is watching closely, as this is the first election after the ouster of former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben [...]