Constitution of Tunisia
Encyclopedia
The Constitution of Tunisia is the supreme law of the Tunisian Republic
. The Constitution is the framework for the organization of the Tunisian government
and for the relationship of the federal government with the governates, citizens, and all people within Tunisia. It was adopted on 1 June 1959 and amended in 1988 and 2002, after the Tunisian constitutional referendum of 2002
.
, President
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
left Tunisia on 14 January 2011 and Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi
stated that he became the acting President under Article 56 of the Constitution. Al Jazeera
claimed that lawyers disagreed with Ghannouchi's claim, since under Article 57 of the Constitution of Tunisia, the Constitutional Council should meet and the leader of one of the houses of the Tunisian parliament should become an interim President. The Constitutional Council declared that "the post of president is definitely vacant" and declared that under Article 57, Fouad Mebazaa
should become the interim President, with the obligation to call for elections within 45 to 60 days. On 15 January 2011, Mebazaa was officially sworn in as interim President.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. The Constitution is the framework for the organization of the Tunisian government
Politics of Tunisia
The politics of Tunisia function within a framework of a republic organized under a constitution, with a President serving as head of state, Prime Minister as head of government, a bicameral legislature and a court system influenced by French civil law...
and for the relationship of the federal government with the governates, citizens, and all people within Tunisia. It was adopted on 1 June 1959 and amended in 1988 and 2002, after the Tunisian constitutional referendum of 2002
Tunisian constitutional referendum, 2002
A constitutional referendum was held in Tunisia on 26 May 2002. The amendments to the constitution would abolish the three-term limit for incumbent presidents and raise the age limit of a sitting president from 70 to 75...
.
Role of Articles 56 and 57 during the 2011 presidential transition
During the Tunisian revolutionTunisian revolution
The Tunisian Revolution is an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking place in Tunisia. The events began in December 2010 and led to the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011...
, President
President of Tunisia
The President of Tunisia, formally known as the President of the Tunisian Republic is the head of state of Tunisia. Tunisia is a presidential republic in which the president is the head of the executive branch of government with the assistance of the Prime Minister of Tunisia, formally the head of...
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
left Tunisia on 14 January 2011 and Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi
Mohamed Ghannouchi
Mohamed Ghannouchi was the Prime Minister of Tunisia and was self-proclaimed acting President of the country for a few hours starting 14 January 2011, under Article 56 of the Constitution of Tunisia...
stated that he became the acting President under Article 56 of the Constitution. Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
claimed that lawyers disagreed with Ghannouchi's claim, since under Article 57 of the Constitution of Tunisia, the Constitutional Council should meet and the leader of one of the houses of the Tunisian parliament should become an interim President. The Constitutional Council declared that "the post of president is definitely vacant" and declared that under Article 57, Fouad Mebazaa
Fouad Mebazaa
Fouad Mebazaa is a Tunisian politician who has been President of Tunisia since 15 January 2011. He was active in Neo Destour prior to Tunisian independence, served as Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Public Health, and Minister of Culture and Information, and has been President of the...
should become the interim President, with the obligation to call for elections within 45 to 60 days. On 15 January 2011, Mebazaa was officially sworn in as interim President.