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The role of the legislative power within the new political balances

 

 

Thursday February 19, 2015 -Africa hotel-Tunis

 

 


 

The Center for the Study of Islam held a symposium on February 19, 2015, Entitled:  the role of the legislative power in the new political balances. The symposium presented a reading on the new political balances and blocs created in the assembly of the representatives of the people and the role of the assembly in monitoring the government's actions in the ongoing economic, social and security challenges. The symposium brought together significant political figures Mr.LazherAkermi, Mr. Khaled Shawkat, Mr.Imed Khmiri, Mr. Karim Hlali, Mr.ImedDaimi and Mr.Mohsen Hasan, representatives of political parties and civil society organizations and experts.


 

During the opening speech Dr.RadwanMasmoudi, President of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy highlighted the significance of such symposium in the new changing political reality that requires joining efforts of all parties to address the new blocs and coalitions in the Assembly of the Representatives of the People. He stressed the crucial role of the assembly in the upcoming period including the legislative support, the control of the government's actions at the economic, security, political and social level to help overcome the current situations and build a new political path along with the constitution provisions.

Mr.LazherAkkermi, the Minister in charge of relations with the Assembly of Representatives of the People, described the new political scene as a reorganization of the political landscape representing a variety of visions of the political relations. In his view, the political scene has become more consensual and inclusive which is the very foundations of an emerging democracy and therefore of an economic progress. He noted that the reality of this stage requires a system that involves all parties where the Assembly of the Representatives of the People is the very backbone of the government's power and the implementation of laws is the government's duty.

    

Mr. Khaled Chawkat, ARP Representative for Nidaa Tounes party, urged the need to move forward with the civic, social and cultural actions towards establishing the principles of citizenship highlighting the current complex reality of Tunisia that is torn between a new political system demanding a consensual participatory approach and a political legacy of exclusion and tyranny that has always denied the culture of dialogue. He further emphasized the necessity to amend the political landscape with regard the political parties to adapt with the national project that should put an end to the formal issues that divided the political scene and focus on priorities . Concluding his remarks, Mr. Chawkat, called for avoiding political disputes within the ARP   to ensure competitiveness based upon shared work and responsibility.

 

Following Mr.Chawkat, the ARP Representative for Ennahdha party,Mr. Imed Khmiri, noted that ARP has given the chance to acquire the experience and skills in conflict resolution between the political parties and has paved the way for a legislative experience that cut with figureheads with no real power. He further stressed that the legislative power has committed to achieving political stability, assuring political plurality, finishing the establishment of the constitutional institutions, carrying out the municipal elections and strengthening the local governance. In addition, Mr.Khmiri, urged the need to accelerate with the process of ratification with regard the Terrorism Act that would guarantee civil peace and the Supplementary Budget Act. At the end of his intervention he made reference to the significant role of the legislative power as being a real representation of the public voice that requires support to draft legislations and oversee the actions of the government to achieve the ''success of the Tunisian democratic experience which makes an exception in ''The Arab Blaze

 

 Mr.Mohsen Hssan, President of the Free Patriotic Union bloc  in ARP pointed out that the Constitution is a source of pride for all Tunisians that has made Tunisia an exception comparing to other Arab experiences while calling attention to the current economic challenges that Tunisia faces require action at different levels mainly economic and social .Therefore, to overcome these challenges ,he added, not by strikes but rather through a reasonable approach that respects the requirements of this stage , fosters productivity so as to create a new economic path ,reform the business and banking sectors and ultimately encourages investment . Mr.Hssan, concluded that the current political coalition in ARP represents the core element of the stability in the country at all levels through fighting terrorism, ensuring security and establishing social peace.

 

Mr.Karim Hlali, ARP Representative for Afek Tounes party, spoke about the second republic that is based on a parliamentary system and a constitution that was widely praised forfor embodying a genuine spirit of compromises and consensus. Concerning the role of the legislative power, Mr.Hlali stressed the missions of the ARP including the judicial services reform, the election of a permanent judicial body and enactment of legislations which in case of been not ratified they would impede the process of development projects. In addition to legislations, he added, the reforming process of institutions and services requires a political courage to control the necessary funds and accelerate with the procedures. Mr.Hlali concluded by stressing the need to improve the working conditions of the representatives so that they achieve their mission in the expected time 

 

Whereas, Mr.Imed Daimi, Representative of ARP for the Congress for a Republic, expressed that the new political landscape is flawed and hybrid because of the ambiguous and opaque alliances created in the ARP adding that voting was for persons and not for political platforms. In the same context, he pointed out that the political blocs and the balances of power are interim and variable and are not a real representation of the people's voice if a consensus on core issues including positive discrimination and regional development is not made which would narrow the gap between the representatives and citizens.

    

During the open discussion, Different points had been addressed. They stressed that there should be a political will to achieve the institutional reform, cut with old regime and strengthen the role of the opposition regarding the issues left untackled . In the same context, they urged the need for the representatives to go through the regions of Tunisia reaching the grassroots communities, uncover their stories behind their problems and know their expectations. At another point, they finally emphasized the need to reinforce the principles of consensus and plurality within the legislative activity.

 

             

 

              

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