Tunisia to hold first local election since 2011 uprising

Tunisia is hoping to break through barriers with its first local election since the 2011 Arab uprisings — a vote that could produce the first female mayor of the capital, the first Jewish official with an Islamist party and new flock of mayors with greater powers.

The North African country is trying to consolidate its young democracy with Sunday's election, in which Tunisia's 5.3 million voters will choose local leadership from 2,000 lists of candidates.

The top vote-getters are expected to come from the Islamist Ennahdha party and the president's moderate secular Nida Tunis party, which govern together in a coalition. But nearly half the candidate lists are from independent groups that are pledging to address local issues.

Other candidates are focusing on voters frustrated by political elites and successive governments that many feel have failed to live up to promises of the 2011 uprising.

Tunisia has gone through a rocky transition to a democratic system seen as exceptional in a region dominated by authoritarian leaders.

More than half of the candidates in the local elections are under 35 and 49 per cent are women, a rarity in the Arab world. Eighteen lists are led by disabled candidates.

Among the most prominent candidates is Souad Abderrahim, a woman seeking to become the next mayor of Tunis. A pharmacist, former lawmaker and feminist activist, she is an independent who considers herself close to the Islamist party, and is running against 10 men in Sunday's most important race.

Ms Abderrahim calls her candidacy "a source of pride for Tunisia women". Tunisia has long been considered among the most liberal Muslim countries in terms of women's rights, but traditional views remain strong in some quarters and Islamic fundamentalism has resurfaced since the revolution.

"My conviction is that Tunisia is for everyone, and the constitution explains that Tunisians are equal in rights and responsibilities, independent of their sex, religion or colour," Ms Abderrahim said.

She is pledging to put soap in every school bathroom to improve public health, make day care more accessible, plant more trees and revitalise the city's UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage sites such as the walled old town of Tunis, the Medina.

Another unusual candidate is Simon Slama, a Jew from the town of Monastir running with Islamist party Ennahdha who has stressed the importance of Tunisia's tolerance and cultural diversity.

The elections are seen as an important step in decentralising power beyond the capital Tunis and handing more powers to town councils across the country, from Mediterranean beach resorts to struggling desert towns.

The results are expected to suggest where the country is heading politically ahead of presidential and legislative elections next year.

For the first time, security forces took part in the vote. In the past, Tunisia's leaders considered it dangerous for police and soldiers to take political positions but the change is part of Tunisia's democratic shift. The media were not allowed to cover their voting, which took place a week ahead of time, to ensure their political views were not publicly known.

Electoral authorities organised get-out-the-vote efforts focusing on Tunisia's young people, whose high unemployment rates have fuelled disillusionment.

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Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances