Tunisian President’s New Electoral Law Reduces Parties’ Sway

Tunisia’s president issued an electoral law reducing but not ending the role of political parties in a reformed parliament that will have fewer powers under a constitution passed in July. <br />Under the new law, voters will choose candidates in the December 17 election individually rather than by selecting a single party list – a switch that will weaken the influence of parties. <br />President Kais Saied says they are passing through a new stage in the history of Tunisia towards the sovereignty of the people after previous sham elections. <br />He says political parties were not being excluded and such accusations constituted lies and fabrications.