Tunisia – Tunisia prepares for referendum to amend constitution

Location: Tunis, Tunisia

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:05:00

Voice: Natural

Source: A24 Tunisia

Restriction: A24 subscribers

Date: 24/06/2022

Storyline:

Tunisia is preparing to hold a national referendum on a new constitution on July 25 despite opposition’s calls to reverse the controversial move. The Independent Electoral Commission began preparations for voter lists and other logistic issues. The commission head, Farouk Bouaskar, said they are working to ensure regular, democratic, and fair polling. Earlier, Tunisian President Kais Saied issued a decree to call voters to a referendum provided that the new draft constitution be published no later than June 30.

Shot list:

SOUNDBITE (Farouk Bouaskar – Head of the Electoral Commission):

“The Electoral Commission works to ensure that a democratic and fair referendum will be held to guarantee freedom of expression and pluralism. Our texts approve this; our ordinal decision no. 14 does not prevent any party from participating in the referendum. The electoral process must be organized by the Elections Commission, the Audiovisual Communication Commission, and the Central Bank. Texts on financial issues and equality will be issued soon. We are working in coordination with the Audiovisual Communication Commission and made progress in the joint draft resolution that will be issued soon. The Central Bank has a circular regarding opening bank accounts for the referendum campaign. We will issue a draft resolution to set the terms of financing the referendum campaign soon. We are keen to prepare all texts before the campaign begins on July 3. Our role is to organize and regulate the process and tighten control over all workers, who are involved in the referendum campaign.”

SOUNDBITE (Jamal Shalaika – Official in the Logistics Unit at the Elections Authority):

“We will try to have all the texts (related to elections) ready before Eid al-Adha in all central offices, except for the electoral register that will be issued and sent to offices after July 12^th. As for Tunisians abroad, we will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tunisian Airlines on July 14-15 to ensure sending the texts before the Eid and then sending the register in accordance with a diplomatic parcel.”

SOUNDBITE (Rida – Tunisian woman):

“I support holding the referendum. It is time to change. We hope to find solutions for the catastrophic situation we are going through.”

SOUNDBITE (Mahreziah – Tunisian woman):

“I have always participated in the poll and I have just registered for this one. The Tunisian people want to change for the better. We want to resolve the current political crisis.”

SOUNDBITE (Ali – Tunisian man):

“All Tunisian people will participate in the referendum and the president will consult them in taking the necessary decisions and measures.”