(AGENPARL) – lun 13 marzo 2023 [Image]
[line]
Ref. CG005(2023)
Congress President expresses concern about dissolution of local councils in Tunisia
Strasbourg, 13 March 2023 – The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, has expressed grave concern about the decision of the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Kais Saed, to dissolve elected local councils.
“The decision to dissolve elected councils represents a setback for local democracy in the country,” said President Verbeek.
“Local councils, formed following the local elections in Tunisia in May 2018, which were observed by the Congress, represented the result of the implementation of the new Tunisian Constitution of 2014 and of the Code of Local Authorities developed in co-operation with the Congress. Through their democratic legitimacy, these councils met the expectations of citizens. The decision of the President of the Republic means a return to the situation that existed before May 2018,” continued the President of the Congress.
“The existence of elected local councils has allowed the Congress to grant the status of Partner for Local Democracy to Tunisia and the participation of a delegation of Tunisian elected representatives in the work of the Congress. The dissolution of elected councils calls into question this status,” added President Verbeek.
He expressed his strong hope that the new law on local elections would allow for the holding of new local elections in the country as soon as possible.
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Institutional Communication Unit
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Leendert Verbeek (Netherlands, SOC/G/PD), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Harald Sonderegger (Austria, EPP/CCE).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France