Tunisian president’s new electoral law reduces parties’ sway

TUNISIA’S president issued an electoral law on Thursday reducing, but not ending, the role of political parties in a reformed parliament that will have fewer powers under a constitution passed in July.

Under the new law, voters will choose candidates in the December 17 election individually rather than by selecting a single party list – a switch that will weaken the influence of parties.

The unilateral changes are the latest that President Kais Saied has made to Tunisia’s political system since he seized most powers last summer in a move his foes called an anti-democratic coup to establish one-man rule.

“We are passing through a new stage in the history of Tunisia towards the sovereignty of the people after previous sham elections,” said Saied during a cabinet meeting.

He said political parties were not being excluded and that accusations constituted “lies and fabrications.”

The main parties across Tunisia’s political spectrum have already rejected the