Tunisia – Administrative court rejects two appeals against the results of the Referendum
Tunisia’s Administrative Court ruled on Friday to reject two challenges to the results of the referendum on the constitution.
The Administrative Court said in a statement that a judicial department that is committed to dispute the preliminary results of the July 25th referendum issued its judgments Friday regarding the two appeals filed in these results.
It added: “In the case of the appeal filed by I WATCH, the court ruled that it was inadmissible. In the case of the appeal filed by the People Want Party, the court ruled in principle that the appeal should be accepted in form and rejected in the first place”.
Imad al-Ghabri, spokesperson for the Administrative Court, said that I WATCH means that the appeal is not accepted on the basis of irregularities related to the status of the party appealing.
As for the second ruling related to the appeal of the People’s Want Party, Al-Ghabri explained that it was made on an objective and non-formal basis, related to the lack of seriousness of the appeals submitted by the party that made them.
The Administrative Court explained that, in accordance with the provisions of Article 145 of the Electoral Code, the Administrative Court will notify the Elections Commission and the lists of appeals within three days of their authorization.
She noted that, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 146 of the Electoral Code, the parties concerned could appeal the said provisions before the Plenary Judicial Session of the Administrative Tribunal.
Al-Ghabri said a third appeal regarding the results of the referendum, filed by the Afek Tounes party on Wednesday, was submitted for negotiation and the ruling on August 8th.
Article 145 (new) of the Basic Law No. 7 of 2017 on elections and referendums stipulates that the preliminary results of elections and referendums can be appealed before the administrative appeals courts within three days of their suspension by the Independent High Electoral Commission.
On July 26th, the electoral commission announced that it accepted the draft text of the new constitution of the Tunisian Republic, which was submitted to referendum. According to the calendar related to the referendum, the final results will be announced no later than August 27th after the appeal deadline has been met.
