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Tunisia's Zbidi says he will amend constitution if elected president

Arab World Materials 28 August 2019 16:26 (UTC +04:00)
Tunisia’s Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi will amend the constitution if he wins September’s presidential election to end an “unreasonable” division of power between the prime minister and the head of state
Tunisia's Zbidi says he will amend constitution if elected president

Tunisia’s Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi will amend the constitution if he wins September’s presidential election to end an “unreasonable” division of power between the prime minister and the head of state, reports Trend referring to Reuters.

Zbidi, among a few prominent candidates in a field of 26, is supported by some secular parties, but he said in a Reuters interview on Tuesday that he is ready to work with the moderate Islamist Ennahda.

He also said he would quickly reopen Tunisia’s embassy in Syria, citing a need for security cooperation and the difficulties faced by Tunisians living there.

Despite economic troubles, Tunisia has had a smoother march towards democracy than any of the other Arab nations that tried to follow its example in 2011 by throwing off autocratic rule, and it will also hold a parliamentary election in October.

On the constitution, he did not say whether he would prefer to switch to a wholly parliamentary system or a presidential one, saying this was something that should be decided in a referendum.

The constitution agreed in 2014 after years of rule by strongman president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali split power between the president and a government chosen by parliament.

Though directly elected, the president only controls foreign and defense policy, while most other powers are held by the prime minister, proposed by the biggest party in parliament.

“The constitution disperses powers and decisions between the prime minister and the president,” said Zbidi, 69, speaking in French.

“This is unreasonable. The lack of efficiency in this hybrid system disrupts economic recovery and democratic transition,” he added.

The constitution’s shortcomings became clear over the past two years during disagreements between the president and prime minister.

However, the possible amendment of a constitution agreed by parliament only five years ago after difficult negotiations between rival parties, could prove divisive.

Ennahda, along with some civil society organizations, has rejected the move, saying it is too early to judge a constitution that has not yet been fully implemented.

Some bodies mandated by the constitution, including a new Constitutional Court, have not yet been set up.

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