HIAE proposes draft code of conduct for political parties in Tunis

A draft code of conduct was proposed on Friday to political parties ahead of the Constitutional Assembly election scheduled for next October 23. Prepared by the Higher Independent Authority for Elections (HIAE), the draft code will be submitted, after discussion, to signature by political parties. It contains a set of principles aimed to "create a climate conducive to the success of the electoral process in accordance with the principles of openness, mutual respect, neutrality and equal chances," said HIAE Chairman Kamel Jendoubi at a meeting with political parties on the theme: " electoral process: after the registration." "Sixty days before D-Day, it is important to establish a climate of confidence and consultation between different partners of the process of democratic transition," said Mr.Jendoubi, reviewing the major stages of the electoral calendar, namely nomination, the election campaign and the vote. "Developing a code of conduct allowing to restore confidence with regard to political and electoral issues is a shared responsibility," said, on her part, Monia Elabed, member in charge of legal affairs and public relations at the HIAE. This code, she added, is "a voluntary agreement" that recalls the legal framework of the electoral process while stressing the need to respect the rules and standards of political action. The draft code, inspired by international experiences, is a call to uphold the principles of dialogue and consultation between different sides, refrain from using violence, respect the physical and moral integrity of candidates and avoid any behaviour likely to impede the electoral process. "The success of election requires the establishment of a permanent dialogue between the HIAE and political parties," argued Farhat Horchani, Professor of Constitutional Law and member of the High Authority for the Achievement of the Revolution Objectives. HIAE announced in this regard the holding of weekly meetings with political parties and civil society players. Meetings are also planned in regions with independent lists after the period of filing candidacies which starts on September 1 and ends on September 7, said Boubaker Ben Thabet, Secretary-General of HIAE. Speaking on the main concerns related to the political process, political parties' representatives particularly cited the election propaganda. They highlighted and questioned the large difference in means available to different parties to fund the election campaign. "The media landscape in its overall meaning requires regulation," said Ghazi Gherairi, Professor of Constitutional Law and member of the High Authority for Achievement of the Revolution Objectives. He pointed to the existence of a legal vacuum regarding political propaganda since, the said, the electoral decree-law only specifies the modes of access to media in the election campaign, i.e. 22 days before voting day.