Editing Politics of Tunisia (section)

==Political parties and elections==
{{elect|List of political parties in Tunisia|Elections in Tunisia}}
Since 1987 Tunisia has reformed its political system several times, abolishing life-term presidencies and opening up the parliament to opposition parties. The number of new political parties and associations has increased since the beginning of Ben Ali's presidency in 1987. Shortly before the revolution of 2011 there were eight recognized national parties, six of which held national legislative seats. President Ben Ali's party, known as the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), commanded majorities in local, regional, and national elections. Although the party was renamed (in President Bourguiba's days it was the Socialist Destourian Party), its policies were still considered to be largely secular and conservative. However, the [[Tunisian Revolution]] in 2011 saw its removal from power.

===2009 national elections===
{{Main|2009 Tunisian general election}}
The Tunisian national elections of 2009, overseen by the Interior Ministry and held on October 25, 2009, elected candidates for president and legislative offices. During the campaign, speeches by candidates were aired on Tunisian radio and television stations.<ref>[http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/10/13/feature-01 Tunisian candidates kick off campaigns], Magharebia.com, 2009.</ref> Participation was 89% of resident citizens and 90% of citizens living abroad. In the presidential vote, Ben Ali soundly defeated his challengers, Mohamed Bouchiha (PUP), Ahmed Inoubli (UDU) and Ahmed Ibrahim (Ettajdid Movement) for a fifth term in office. His 89% of the vote was slightly lower than in the 2004 election.<ref>[http://www.tunisiaonline.com/elections2004/nouvelles/251004-1.html Results of presidential elections] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127064653/http://www.tunisiaonline.com/elections2004/nouvelles/251004-1.html |date=2010-11-27 }}, TunisiaOnline.com, 25 October 2004.</ref> In the parliamentary elections, the RCD received 84% of the vote for 161 constituency seats. The MDS won 16 seats under the proportional representation system, followed by the PUP with 12 seats. Fifty-nine women were elected to legislative seats.<ref>[http://www.observatoire-elections2009.org.tn/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93 "Final Results for the 2009 Legislative Elections"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313150033/http://www.observatoire-elections2009.org.tn/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93 |date=2012-03-13 }} Republic of Tunisia: National Observatory of Presidential and Legislative Elections, 2009</ref>

The election was criticized by opposition parties and some international observers for limitations placed on non-incumbents. In one instance, the Ettajdid party's weekly publication, ''Ettarik al-Jadid'', was seized by authorities for violating campaign communications laws.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/10/23/tunisia-elections-atmosphere-repression "Tunisia: Elections in an Atmosphere of Repression"], Sarah Leah Whitson, Human Rights Watch, October 23, 2009.</ref> Meanwhile, a delegation from the African Union Commission praised the election for taking place with "calm and serenity".<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/au-observers-mission-october-25-elections-in-tunisia-held-in-calm-and-serenity/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716145554/http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/au-observers-mission-october-25-elections-in-tunisia-held-in-calm-and-serenity/ |archive-date=2011-07-16 |website=Tunisia Online News |date= October 28, 2009 |title=AU observers mission: " October 25 elections in Tunisia held in calm and serenity" }}</ref> Prior to the 2009 election, Tunisia amended its constitution to allow more candidates to run for president, allowing the top official from each political party to compete for the presidency regardless of whether they held seats in parliament.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8321452.stm "Tunisia's image belies poll control"], BBC News, Rana Jawad, 23 October 2009.</ref>

===2011 Constituent Assembly election===
{{Main|2011 Tunisian Constituent Assembly election}}
Following the 2010–2011 protests and the vacation of the presidency by President Ben Ali, elections for a Constituent Assembly were held on 23 October 2011. Results were announced on 25 October 2011 with the center-right and moderately Islamist [[Ennahda Movement|Ennahda]] winning a plurality with 37% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |title=Final Results of Tunisian Elections Announced |url=http://www.tunisia-live.net/2011/11/14/tunisian-election-final-results-tables/ |newspaper=Tunisia Live |date=14 November 2011 |first1=Eymen |last1=Gamha |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310062505/http://www.tunisia-live.net/2011/11/14/tunisian-election-final-results-tables/ |archive-date=10 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2014 parliamentary elections===
{{Main|2014 Tunisian parliamentary election}}
Parliamentary elections were held in Tunisia on 26 October 2014. Results were announced on 27 October 2014 with secularist [[Nidaa Tounes]] winning a plurality with 38% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |title=Secular party takes lead in Tunisia elections |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/10/secular-party-takes-lead-tunisia-elections-2014102710205651524.html |first1=Ahmed |last1=El Amraoui |newspaper=Al Jazeera |date=27 October 2014 |access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref>

=== 2019 parliamentary and presidential elections ===
{{Main|2019 Tunisian parliamentary election|2019 Tunisian presidential election}}
In the parliamentary [[2019 Tunisian parliamentary election|election]], the [[Ennahda]] became the biggest party with 52 seats, while the [[Heart of Tunisia]] became the second with 38 seats. In the presidential [[2019 Tunisian presidential election|election]], independent candidate Kais Saied got a landslide victory with 72.5% of the vote in the second round.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rahman |first1=Hafijur |title=An analysis of Tunisia's electoral results |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/op-ed/2019/10/19/an-analysis-of-tunisias-electoral-results |work=Daily Sabah |date=19 October 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201223949/https://www.dailysabah.com/op-ed/2019/10/19/an-analysis-of-tunisias-electoral-results |archive-date= Dec 1, 2023 }}</ref>

=== 2022 constitutional referendum ===

{{Main|2022 Tunisian constitutional referendum}}

In July 2022, Tunisians approved a new constitution in a [[2022 Tunisian constitutional referendum|referendum.]] The reform gave more powers to Tunisia's president, meaning the role of President Kais Saied strengthened significantly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tunisia's referendum: Victory for 'yes' vote, but failure for revolution |url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20220727-tunisia-s-referendum-victory-for-yes-vote-but-failure-for-revolution |work=France 24 |date=27 July 2022 |language=en |first1=Sophian |last1=Aubin |others=Video by Pellegrin, Charles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407041027/https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20220727-tunisia-s-referendum-victory-for-yes-vote-but-failure-for-revolution |archive-date= Apr 7, 2024 }}</ref>

=== 2024 presidential elections ===
In October 2024, Tunisia held presidential elections, which some political parties boycotted, while others had many of their leaders jailed since 2021. The ISIE ( [[Independent High Authority for Elections]]) rejected 14 candidacies files, only accepting three candidates : Saied and former deputies [[Zouhair Maghzaoui]], a supporter of Saied and his coup, and [[Ayachi Zammel]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Fekih |first=Hakim |date=2024-09-06 |title=Tunisia: A Sham Presidential Election |url=https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/tunisia-a-sham-presidential-election/ |journal=Arab Reform Initiative |language=en}}</ref> Candidacies of [[Mondher Zenaidi]], [[Abdellatif Mekki]] and [[Imed Daïmi]] [fr], were rejected but later on reinstated by the Administrative Court.

Late August 2024, the Administrative Court ruled that these last three candidates must be allowed back in the race. The ISIE, whose members are mostly appointed by Saied, disraged this ruling, arguing it hasn't it received it on time, which was denied by the Court.<ref name=":0" />