Political parties welcome Tunisia’s new constitution
The results of the popular referendum on the new draft constitution in Tunisia were resolved after the Chairman of the Independent High Electoral Commission, Farouk Bouaskar, announced, during a press conference, the results on Tuesday evening.
The “yes” vote was 94.6%, and the response rate was 5.40%.
With this clear preference, the new constitution passes smoothly and enters into force, at a time when political parties continue to debate the content of the constitution and the course of the referendum process.
Several political forces and parties supporting the July 25 march welcomed the passage of the new constitution with comfortable majorities such as the Tunisia Forward Party, the Popular Current, the People’s Movement, the Baath Party, and the Coalition for the Republic.
Baath Party leader Suhaib al-Mezraqi said that the success of the new constitution and the trust of the Tunisian people means that citizens pin great hopes on what is coming under a new system that establishes a strong, just, and accountable national state before history and the people.
Al-Mezraqi called on the president to “develop a national, social and strategic political project that includes all political, economic and social fields, because the basic pillar of democracy is the social aspect that was neglected by previous governments”.
Oussama Aouidet, official spokesman for the People’s Movement, said the Tunisian people “were able to move towards a new republic”, adding that the figures on Tunisians’ participation in the referendum “are honorable and reflect the positions of citizens who adhered to the goals of the revolution”.
Aouidet said his party considers participation in the referendum a success, as three million citizens voted for democracy without the participation of Ennahdha supporters.
Sarhan Nasri, head of the Coalition for Tunisia, said the results of the referendum “have brought the Brotherhood system closer to the country”. He said the new constitution, despite the “anti-democratic” stance of its opponents, will enter into force after the official announcement of the results by the electoral commission.
President Kais Saied said in his first statements after the preliminary results were announced that Tunisia has entered a new stage, and that holding accountable those who committed crimes against the country is imminent. He promised that the Tunisian people will pass through “the bank of despair and frustration to the bank of hope, work and achieving the will of the people”.
