Tunisian parties to take part in constitutional referendum

Five Tunisian parties have decided to take part in the people's referendum due to take place on May 26 on introducing reforms to the Tunisian constitution, concentrating in particular on developing the ruling system.

The parties which support the referendum are four opposition parties, foremost being the Socialist Democrats movement, the People's Unity party, the Unionist Democratic Federation and the Liberation Social Party as well as the ruling Democratic Constitutional Coalition party.

So far two opposition parties have not declared their position towards taking part in the referendum. They are the Renewal Movement ( Haraket al-Tajdid) which is the former Communist party in Tunisia, and the Progressive Socialist Coalition party which is not represented in the Tunisian parliament.

On April 4th, the Tunisian parliament approved by a great majority a draft plan to amend the constitution proposed by the government while 6 opposition members showed reservations most of them are member of the "renewal" movement.

However, the amendments on which the referendum will be carried out include opening the way for the President of the Republic to be nominated for the presidency for an additional two "terms of office " and increasing the ceiling age of presidential candidates to 75.