More than 30 Tunisian MPs proposed an urgent bill on Friday to amend the country's electoral law, in an attempt to strip the Administrative Court of its role as an adjudicator in election-related disputes before the October 6 presidential vote.
The bill, which was published on the Tunisian Parliament’s website, suggests the revision of six articles of the electoral law, and the entire substitution of 15 more.
The changes proposed by the 34 legislators include the removal of the Administrative Court, the judiciary body considered the primary referee in all phases of the electoral process – including appeals against the electoral authority’s decisions, the supervision of campaign funding and the challenging of election results.
The Administrative Court is seen as one of the last remaining independent judicial bodies in Tunisia after President Kais Saied consolidated all branches of power and dissolved the High Judicial Council in July 2021.
The Court of Appeal – and in case of a second phase of adjudication – the Court of Cassation, would be put forward as a replacement, the bill says.
“The provisions of this law apply to disputes that are continuing as of the date of its issuance and relating to the 2024 presidential elections, regardless of the judicial authority in charge and at any stage of litigation,” the text reads, suggesting that if it is passed within the remaining 14 days before the October 6 vote, its stipulations would be legally binding.
Tunisia’s Administrative Court has been at the centre of a legal struggle with the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) over its decision to accept appeals by three other presidential hopefuls and allow their return to the race.
The decision, which the court said is binding and should be implemented immediately, was rejected by ISIE as it went forward with announcing a final list of three candidates instead of six and challenged its legal authority.
The MPs who are suggesting the electoral law amendment said in the text that their “legislative initiative is inevitable” amid the continuing conflict between the Administrative Court and ISIE.
“[The situation] alerts us to the beginning of potential crises and an imminent danger that threatens the electoral process and could plunge the country into a maze that would distance us from the concerns of the general public,” the text read.
The legislators also accused the court’s judges of not complying with the principles of neutrality and non-disclosure, describing some of their public statements as “dangerous”.
However, some MPs have voiced opposition to the electoral law amendments.
“We are surprised that such an initiative is being presented in parliament when we are already in the presidential race. Courts' jurisdictions are always determined before that,” Mohamed Ali, a member of the National Sovereign bloc, told The National.
“This can only be understood that, as the electoral process has not been going in a way that satisfies a certain party, something needs to be done,” he added.
Mr Ali criticised the electoral authority's rejection of the Administrative Court’s rulings, describing it as “intentional exclusion” that he believes could create valid concerns over the legitimacy of the presidential election.
“This is a direct punishment of the Administrative Court for its stance, and is a pre-emptive attempt to prevent any potential questioning of the election's legitimacy, which have already started,” he said.
“We cannot use the parliament as a pathway to strike the legitimacy of the Administrative Court, and we will work to ensure that it will not be shoved into this power struggle or these attempts to whitewash the elections.”
Following the 2022 constitutional referendum, the judiciary has been downgraded from a separate branch of government to function in a much weaker role. The moves have been criticised as part of attempts by Mr Saied’s government to undermine courts’ independence.
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What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
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Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
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Sunday
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The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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