First plenary session of Constituent Assembly to be held on Tuesday

The National Constituent Assembly is holding on Tuesday its first plenary session as provided for in the government decree signed last November 14 by the Caretaker President. The 217 members of the assembly will meet at Bardo palace, former headquarters of the Chamber of Deputies. This is the second Constituent Assembly in the history of Tunisia after that of 1956 which was entrusted with drafting the Constitution of independent Tunisia. This new assembly was elected last October 23 to draft a new Constitution. The meeting will also elect the speaker, set up internal regulations, commissions and voting modes After the election of the speaker, the assembly members will deal with the provisional organisation of powers and the determination of criteria to choose the president of the republic and the prime minister. The first session is also expected to discuss article 1 of the Constitution and equality of sexes.