Tunisian parliament votes to subsidize parties

The Tunisian parliament has voted to subsidize political parties that have elected members, with a system that will most benefit the governing party of President Zine al-Abidin Bin Ali.

The new law, enacted unanimously on July 15, grants an annual 60,000 dinars to parties represented in parliament, and a second subsidy proportional to the number of each party's deputies.

Ben Ali's Rally for Constitutional Democracy Party has 144 members of parliament, while opposition parties hold a total of 19 seats.

The parliament did not specify how much money the proportional subsidy will disburse. Parties with no parliamentary representation will receive no subsidy.