Tunisia – Tunisians vote on new constitution

Location: Tunis – Tunisia

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:04:20

Sound: natural

Source: A24 in Tunisia

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 25/07/ 2022

Storyline:

Tunisia is amid a referendum on a new constitution that proposes to invest nearly all powers in the presidency. Polling stations opened at 6 am GMT today and closed at precisely 9:30 pm GMT to give Tunisians 14 hours to vote on approving or rejecting the new constitution. Many of Tunisia’s most prominent political parties called on the public to boycott the vote, which is being held on the first anniversary of President Kais Saied’s dismissal of an elected parliament and establishment of one-person emergency rule.  Saied’s supporters say the new constitution will guarantee stability after a decade of economic decline.

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Raouf bin Musa – Deputy head of the polling station Nahj):

“We opened our doors to voters at 6 am. The station has 9116 registered voters and 10 offices. The day has been uneventful so far, voters coming in and out of the station. We have several assistants and electoral commission members showing citizens where and how to vote. The station has its own voting system, and people can refer to the electoral register.”

– Soundbite (Tariq Farouk Al-Nusairi – Observer with Arab Parliament):

“As we passed by the station, we noticed how well the electoral commission had organized and coordinated the voting process. We expect a large turnout of voters in the coming hours. We will soon find out what Tunisians want, whether they vote yes or no. I hope the results are in favor of Tunisia and its people.”

– Soundbite (Hazem Al-Kasuri – Lawyer and political activist):

“The referendum today will determine the fate of Tunisians and their right to freedom, dignity and social justice. This is not another Muslim Brotherhood propaganda, it is actual practice of revisions made to the constitution. The public of Tunisia is the sovereign and today they exercise this sovereignty through this referendum in order to move towards a new government system.”