Provisional
edition
The situation in Tunisia
Resolution 1819 (2011)1
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 the
urgent procedure only two weeks after the Jasmine Revolution
that put an end to the Ben Ali regime. It again pays tribute
to the courage and determination of the Tunisian people who,
despite violent 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 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 North-South Centre and the European and
Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement;
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, to that of 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 on its
Resolution 1598 (2008) "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.
1 Assembly debate on 21 June 2011
(22nd Sitting) (see Doc.
12624, report of the Political Affairs Committee,
rapporteur: Ms Brasseur). Text adopted by the Assembly
on 21 June 2011 (22nd Sitting).
See also
Recommendation 1972 (2011). |
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