Tunisia celebrates its 46th Independence Day
Tunisia, Politics, 3/20/2002

Tunisia has achieved its independence following a bitter struggle carried out by generations of the Tunisian people, led by militant Tunisians including the late Tunisian leader, the first President for the Tunisian Republic al-Habib Bourqeiba.

When President Zein al Abidin Bin Ali assumed power on November 7, 1987 he had to maintain the independence and national sovereignty of the country.

In his future program in which he waged the presidential elections on October 1999 in which he faced competion from two candidates from two other parties, the Tunisian President embarked on the policy of democracy and the prospect of integrated comprehensive development.

Among other corrections made in the country after President Bin Ali assumed power was the amendment of the constitution in 1988. It was a decision that out an end to the principle of life-long presidency and the automatic succession to power by restoring back the republican system and sovereignty to the Tunisian people.

Following various successive amendments which covered the election law the democratic process has been reinforced and political pluralism in the country was manifested in the increased number of seats the opposition parties got at the parliament and at the municipal council especially since the recent legislative and municipal elections in which the opposition received 20% at the parliament and 6.21% in the municipalities. The Press law in Tunisia was also amended in canceling physical sanctions stated in several chapters of this law and strengthening the role of the media in coping with changes taking place inside and outside the country.

The GNP per capita income for the Tunisian individual increase to reach 2920 dinars for the time being. Social services have been also developed in Tunisia to reach more than 20% of the GNP and cover 90% of the population.

In the area of education, the Tunisian government allotted for 2001 a sum of 2000 million dinars, representing 30% of the state's budget to the sector of education.

Thanks to numerous economic and social successes, specialized sides have ever commended Tunisia's successes especially the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, while Davos Forum ranked Tunisia as number one at the level of the African continent regarding economic competitiveness.

Moreover, the second report for the UN development program on poverty in the world for 2000 has classified Tunisia as the typical example for countries which attained notable progress in the area of resisting poverty and allotted considerable sums for human resources development mission, noting that poverty rate since 1997 decreased to 4.4% while it was 33% three decades earlier.

Furthermore, the fundamental reform of the constitution was welcomed by the elements of the civil society in the country of national organizations, political parties and intellectuals, legal experts all to strengthen the gains and achievements realized in Tunisia during the years of the change followed President Bin Ali's being in power in Tunisia.

Previous Stories:
  Tunisia: a great response to reforming the constitution   (3/19/2002)
  Saudi - Tunisian investment cooperation   (3/18/2002)
  Tunisia's industrial modernisation program   (3/15/2002)
  Women's Citizenship and Development Capacity seminar   (3/15/2002)
  Egyptian-Tunisian higher committee convenes soon in Cairo   (3/13/2002)
  Tunisia's Ben Ali gets message from King Mohammed   (3/12/2002)
  Edeid, Tunisian PM probe upping bilateral trade to $ 300 m   (3/11/2002)
  Tunisia's First Lady calls for activating women's social role   (11/12/2001)
  Tunisia: Bin Ali opens a seminar on civilizations   (11/12/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search