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Elections in Tunisia gives information on election and election results in Tunisia.

Tunisia elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people. The Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab/Chambre des Députés) has 189 members, elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies. 37 seats are guaranteed to the opposition. However these seats are reserved to what is commonly referred to in Tunisia as "Fake opposition". This is a ploy perfected by Zine Elabidine ben Ali, whereby certain select people (usually close allies) are given lots of priviledges and seats in the parliament at the cost of running mock opposition. The ruling party and its apparatus helps them set full fledged fake parties, complete with newspapers, offices, etc... Of course they are stricly expected to endorse all and every thing Ben Ali does and they usually have no real member. Their only activities are to issue telegrams of unconditional support to Ben Ali and his policies. During election these fake parties run mock (reported in the news but not real) campaigns to give an illusion that here is democracy and fair competition. These campaigns usually culminate in the fake parties endorsing the ruling party and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. In many instances these parties purpose is to muddy the picture and attack the real opposition. The Chamber of Councilors (Majlis al-Mustasharin) has 126 members, 85 members indirectly elected by electors composed of members of the Chamber of Deputies and city council members, and 41 are appointed by the President. This last Chamber, elected 3 July 2005, is dominated by the ruling party. Tunisia is a one party dominant state with the Democratic Constitutional Rally in power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.

[edit] Latest elections

[edit] 2004 Presidential election

e • d Summary of the 24 October 2004 Tunisian Presidential **election results**
	Votes	%
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali - Democratic Constitutional Rally (Rassemblement Constitutionelle et Démocratique)	4,202,292	94.5
Mohamed Bouchiha - Party of People's Unity (Parti de l'Unité Populaire)	167,986	3.8
Mohamed Ali Halouani - Renewal Movement Ettajdid (Mouvement de la Rénovation-Ettajdid)	42,213	1.0
Mohamed Mouni Béji - Social Liberal Party (Parti Social-Libéral)	35,067	0.8
Total (turnout 91.5 %)	4,449,558	100.0
Invalid votes	14,779
Total votes	4,464,337
Source: Tunisia Online News

[edit] 2004 Legislative election

e • d Summary of the 24 October 2004 Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia **election results**
Parties	Votes	%	Seats
Democratic Constitutional Rally (Rassemblement Constitutionel Démocratique)	3,678,645	87.7	152
Movement of Socialist Democrats (Mouvement des Démocrates Socialistes/Harakat al-Dimocratiyin al-Ishtirakiyin)	194,829	4.6	14
Party of People's Unity (Parti de l'Unité Populaire)	152,987	3.6	11
Unionist Democratic Union (Union Démocratique Unioniste )	92,708	2.2	7
Movement Ettajdid (Mouvement Ettajdid)	43,268	1.0	3
Social Liberal Party (Parti Social-Libéral)	25,261	0.6	2
Total (turnout 91.5 %)	4,199,846		189
Invalid votes	15,305
Total votes	4,215,151
Source: Rulers/Adam Carr

[edit] Past elections

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Interview with Neila C. Hachicha: "Tunisia's Election Was Undemocratic at All Levels", Middle East Quarterly, a Tunisian politician explains obstacle to democracy in her homeland.
Adam Carr's Election Archive