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Resolution 1819 (2011)
The situation in Tunisia
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers
to its Resolution 1791
(2011) on the situation in Tunisia, adopted in January
2011 at the end of a debate held under urgent procedure only two
weeks after the Jasmine Revolution, which put an end to the Ben
Ali regime. It again pays tribute to the courage and determination
of the Tunisian people who, despite violence and repression, have
clearly shown the will to put an end to authoritarian rule and to
transform Tunisia into a free, open and democratic country.
2. Five months after the revolution, the Assembly notes with
satisfaction that the process of democratic transition in Tunisia
is well under way and steps have already been taken to dismantle
the structures of the former regime and put in place elements of
a democratic political system.
3. The Assembly pays tribute to the courage, competence and determination
of the members of the interim government, the newly established
authorities and the representatives of civil society.
4. The Assembly reaffirms its readiness to put its experience
of accompanying democratic transitions and establishing new institutions
in young democracies in Europe at the disposal of Tunisia’s transition
institutions, future permanent institutions and civil society. It
has no intention of giving lessons or imposing models, however,
and respects the sovereign choices of the Tunisians. Any support
and assistance must be governed by respect for the Tunisian people
and their dignity.
5. The Assembly supports the intention of the transition authorities
to organise elections to a National Constituent Assembly as soon
as possible in order to ensure the democratic legitimacy of the
transformations under way. It congratulates the authorities on drafting
a legal framework for the elections and entrusting their organisation
to an independent authority. It is aware, however, that the material
organisation of the elections presents a great many practical problems.
It notes that, following a proposal from the Independent High Authority
for the Elections and the consultation between the transitional
government and the main political forces of the country, the elections
originally scheduled for 24 July 2011 should be held on 23 October
2011.
6. At the same time, the Assembly is concerned about the considerable
deterioration of the economic and social situation of the country,
including a substantial increase in the unemployment rate. It takes
note of the efforts of the provisional government to stimulate the
economy and create jobs, but considers that international solidarity
is needed to support Tunisia in transition.
7. The revolution created much enthusiasm and high expectations
in the Tunisian population. If there is no concrete economic improvement,
support for the revolution may quickly wane and give way to feelings
of disillusion and disappointment.
8. The sudden rise in political tension in early May 2011 showed
that the apparent stability of the political situation in Tunisia
is still very fragile and that the discontent of a considerable
part of the population can easily be exploited to destabilise the
country on the eve of the elections. The Assembly urges all Tunisian
political and civil forces to act responsibly and not endanger the
transformation process under way.
9. The authorities must make it a priority to strengthen internal
security, which is very fragile.
10. The Assembly welcomes the fact that the setting of priorities
and the development of the reform programme are essentially taking
place in an inclusive political climate with the broad participation
of civil society players.
11. It notes with satisfaction that contacts have been established
between the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice
Commission) and the Higher Authority for Realisation of the Objectives
of the Revolution, Political Reform and Democratic Transition, and
encourages the Higher Authority to avail itself fully of the experience
and expertise of the Venice Commission in the preparation of the
new constitution.
12. The Assembly is ready to contribute to the organisation and
observation of the elections to the National Constituent Assembly
and welcomes the intention of the authorities to invite it to observe
those elections.
13. The Assembly reiterates the importance of taking steps to
curb corruption and nepotism and to investigate abuses of power
committed by the former ruling elites of Tunisia. It notes that
a trial in absentia of the
former President Ben Ali took place on 20 June 2011. It encourages
the Commission of Inquiry into misappropriation of funds and corruption
to shed all possible light on the abuses committed by the former
rulers of Tunisia and those close to them. It calls upon the transition
authorities and the future Tunisian authorities to put in place
an effective anti-corruption mechanism.
14. The Assembly calls on the Tunisian transition authorities
to:
14.1. guarantee, in the framework
of the election campaign for the National Constituent Assembly, respect
for fundamental political freedoms such as freedom of assembly,
freedom of association, freedom of expression and media freedom,
as well as individual rights;
14.2. ensure that the essential democratic principle of separation
of the temporal and spiritual powers is respected;
14.3. ensure that all state security forces observe strict neutrality
and do not interfere in the electoral process;
14.4. create fair and transparent conditions for the election
campaign, and in particular guarantee equal access to the media
for the different political forces and the citizens’ right to access
to information in order to be able to make informed political choices;
14.5. ensure that the funding of political parties and the election
campaign is transparent;
14.6. create the conditions for national and foreign observers
to follow the electoral process in complete transparency;
14.7. ensure speedy and objective examination of any possible
challenge.
15. The Assembly calls on the Tunisian political and civil forces
to:
15.1. conduct the election campaign
in an atmosphere of calm and mutual respect;
15.2. refrain from any attempt to provoke or exacerbate political,
economic or social tensions, or to disturb public order;
15.3. comply with the electoral legislation and with the decisions
of the institutions responsible for organising the elections;
15.4. accept and respect the results of the vote.
16. The Assembly encourages civil society players to remain actively
involved in the organisation and follow-up of the electoral process
and, after the elections, in the promotion of democratic principles
and values in the framework of the reforms.
17. After the election of the National Constituent Assembly, the
Assembly invites the future Tunisian authorities to:
17.1. ensure that the positive achievements
of Tunisian society, in particular the high level of education and
the status of women, are safeguarded;
17.2. put in place conditions enabling Tunisian youth to be
actively involved in public life and political action and in this
way give effect to its wish to be an active force for change;
17.3. continue the political reform process, taking inspiration
from universal principles and values and the experience of democratic
transition accumulated in the Council of Europe;
17.4. deepen for this purpose the dialogue with the appropriate
bodies, mechanisms and structures of the Council of Europe. To this
end, the Assembly reiterates the elements contained in paragraph
13 of Resolution 1791
(2011), and again invites the future Tunisian authorities
to:
17.4.1. accede to those Council of Europe legal instruments
which are open to non-member states, in particular to those in the
fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
17.4.2. avail themselves fully of Tunisia’s membership of the
Venice Commission in the future constitutional reform process;
17.4.3. accede to the Council of Europe’s enlarged partial agreements,
such as the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity
(North-South Centre) and the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards
Agreement (EUR-OPA);
17.4.4. establish contacts between the Council of Europe and the
authorities in Tunisia responsible for questions of justice, sustainable
development, culture, education and higher education, youth and
sport, gender equality and the rights of the child;
17.4.5. study and use, in their respective activities, the experience
of the Council of Europe human rights institutions and monitoring
mechanisms, including the European Court of Human Rights and the
Commissioner for Human Rights;
17.4.6. foster contacts between Tunisian and European parliamentary
and civil society representatives;
17.4.7. consider the prospects for parliamentary dialogue offered
by the Partner for Democracy status recently established by the
Assembly.
18. The Assembly invites the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe to:
18.1. strengthen contacts
and consider support measures for Tunisian civil society;
18.2. examine the extent to which Tunisia could benefit from
the experience of the Council of Europe Schools of Political Studies;
18.3. examine ways of involving representatives of Tunisian
youth in the activities of the Council of Europe in the youth field;
18.4. examine the possibility of inviting Tunisian representatives
to the Summer University for Democracy;
18.5. raise, in his contacts with the Council of Europe’s international
partners, above all the European Union and the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the need for effective
co-ordination of efforts to assist the democratic transition in
Tunisia.
19. The Assembly invites the European Commission to reconsider
its decision to withdraw its financial support for the existing
network of Council of Europe Schools of Political Studies.
20. The Assembly calls on the main international partners of Tunisia,
in particular the European Union, to demonstrate genuine solidarity
towards this country in transition, and speedily provide real support
to stimulate the economy and tourism and improve the social situation.
21. It considers it entirely inappropriate to tarnish the image
of Tunisia, a country that has just freed itself from an authoritarian
regime and chosen democracy, as a country that is a source of irregular
migrants.
22. The Assembly confirms its determination, already expressed
in Resolution 1791 (2011),
to follow political developments in Tunisia closely and strengthen
its dialogue with the country’s political forces and civil society
players. It is ready to establish contacts with the future National
Constituent Assembly, and to invite its representatives to be present
in Strasbourg during its plenary sessions, on the basis of its Resolution 1598 (2008) on
strengthening co-operation with the Maghreb countries.
23. The Assembly decides to invite representatives of the future
National Constituent Assembly and of the future Tunisian Parliament
to participate in the Forum for the Future of Democracy.
24. The Assembly asks national parliaments of Council of Europe
member and observer states and parliamentary supported foundations
to foster contacts with Tunisian parliamentary bodies.