Tunisia: The ruling party nominates Bin Ali for a new term of office

The central committee for the ruling democratic constitution coalition in Tunisia decided to nominate President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali in the next presidential elections in 2004 " and this will be in response to the calls of all the party structures, several national figures, the militants and societies and organizations."

The nomination decision came in the general list which stemmed from the 6th ordinary session of the central committee which urged Bin Ali " strongly, to fulfil the call to be the candidate of the coalition in the next presidential elections." The committee called on the Party's next conference and the coalition's representatives at the parliament to take necessary initiatives that are capable of materializing this decision, including work to amend the constitution.

In the year 2004, President Bin Ali will end his third and last term of office, initially according to the Tunisian constitution which limits the presidential term of office to three periods each is of 5 year duration.

In a speech he delivered in conclusion of the meetings of the central meeting, Bin Ali announced that " the democratic choice is our option. A process which we will consolidate at various levels." Bin Ali also stressed Tunisia's support for " our Palestinian brothers in their steadfastness and struggle to restore back their legitimate rights and establish their own independent state on their native soil with Jerusalem as a capital."