Bin Ali inaugurates the referendum campaign
Tunisia, Politics, 5/15/2002

The Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali has given the signal for launching the referendum campaign to amend the constitution which permits him to be nominated for the fourth term of office in 2004. This was during a people's gathering in al-Reyadat palace in Tunis.

In a speech he delivered before thousands of Tunisian, the Tunisian President stressed that the amendment aims at developing the constitutional structure of the ruling system by founding a consultation council in addition to the parliament. He added that the new amendment will enhace pluralism.

Bin Ali said that commitment to Tunisia as stated in the amendment proposal is a fixed and sublime principle and is promising of several reforms.

He thanked the organizations that helped him in this basic amendment of the constitutions, like the national federation of the Tunisian workers and the national union of the Tunisian women.

The constitutional amendment which was adopted by the Tunisian parliament will be debated to people in a referendum which is the first of its kind in the country. It will be held on May 26th.

The new amendment states removes the limit on the number of presidential terms of offices as used to be the case in the former constitution which does not permit more than three terms of Presidential offices. A limit which President Bin Ali will reach in 2004. The new constitution will also raise the age of nomination to judiciary posts from 70 to 75 year old.

Previous Stories:
  Bin Ali vows transparency, referendums as democratic tool   (5/13/2002)
  Bin Ali committed to pluralism, democracy   (5/3/2002)
  Tunisia: Bin Ali quits the minister of the interior   (4/29/2002)

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