Popular Petition
Encyclopedia
The Popular Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development ), short Popular Petition, Aridha Chaabia or
Al Aridha is a political party
in Tunisia. It was formed after the Tunisian revolution
, on 17 March 2011. It has been founded and led by the political writer and media entrepreneur Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi
.
Hechmi Hamdi, who is the owner of Al-Mustakilla satellite TV channel, is alleged to have close ties with Tunisia's ousted president Ben Ali
, but decries such allegations as slander. In the campaign ahead of the Constituent Assembly election on 23 October 2011, the party has promised free health care
, and an allowance of 200 dinars
for each of the 500,000 jobseekers
in Tunisia. Hechmi Hamdi personally has pledged to inject 2 billion dinars of his own wealth into the national budget
. Al-Mustakilla channel has fiercely supported the Petition's campaign. Therefore numerous complaints against Aridha Chaabia have been filed with the electoral commission ISIE, asking for an annulment of the list and its seats.
To the surprise of both rivals and neutral observers, the party performed very well, initially winning 27 seats in the Constituent Assembly
. The unexpected success was partly explained with the Southerner Hechmi Hamdi's appeal to the population of the southern and central governorates
, given that representatives from Tunis and the Mediterranean coast have so far dominated Tunisian politics. On 27 October, ISIE disqualified the Petition's lists in six constituencies (with altogether eight elected candidates) for financial irregularities. Thus, the number of seats was brought down to 19, still making Al Aridha the fourth largest in the convention. ISIE's decision to cancel seats triggered violent protests of Popular Petition supporters in Sidi Bouzid. Party leader Hechmi Hamdi asked his successful candidates to resign and boycot the Constituent Assembly, before reversing this decision on 28 October when he announced that the list's representatives would work in the parliamentary opposition. Following Popular Petition's complaint before the Administrative Court, the electoral commission's decision was mostly revoked: seven of the cancelled seats were reinstated by the judge's verdict, giving the populist party 26 seats altogether. However, twelve of its parliament members resigned from the party in the following days and declared themselves independent.
Al Aridha is a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Tunisia. It was formed after the Tunisian revolution
Tunisian 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...
, on 17 March 2011. It has been founded and led by the political writer and media entrepreneur Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi
Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi
Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi , also spelled Mohammed al Hachimi Al-Hamidi, Hechmi Haamdi, or Hachmi Hamdi is a Tunisian journalist, media entrepreneur and politician, who lives in London. He is the founder and leader of the Popular Petition party....
.
Hechmi Hamdi, who is the owner of Al-Mustakilla satellite TV channel, is alleged to have close ties with Tunisia's ousted president 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...
, but decries such allegations as slander. In the campaign ahead of the Constituent Assembly election on 23 October 2011, the party has promised free health care
Universal health care
Universal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
, and an allowance of 200 dinars
Tunisian dinar
The dinar is the currency of Tunisia. It is subdivided into 1000 milim or millimes . The abbreviation DT is often used in Tunisia, although writing "dinar" after the amount is also acceptable ; the abbreviation TD is also mentioned in a few places, but is less frequently used, given the common use...
for each of the 500,000 jobseekers
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
in Tunisia. Hechmi Hamdi personally has pledged to inject 2 billion dinars of his own wealth into the national budget
Government budget
A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive-or president. For example, only certain types of revenue may be imposed and collected...
. Al-Mustakilla channel has fiercely supported the Petition's campaign. Therefore numerous complaints against Aridha Chaabia have been filed with the electoral commission ISIE, asking for an annulment of the list and its seats.
To the surprise of both rivals and neutral observers, the party performed very well, initially winning 27 seats in the Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly of Tunisia
The Constituent Assembly of Tunisia, or National Constituent Assembly is the body that works out a new Tunisian constitution for the era after the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his Constitutional Democratic Rally –regime...
. The unexpected success was partly explained with the Southerner Hechmi Hamdi's appeal to the population of the southern and central governorates
Governorates of Tunisia
||Tunisia is divided into 24 governorates : Ariana Béja Ben Arous Bizerte Gabès Gafsa Jendouba Kairouan Kasserine Kebili Kef Mahdia Manouba Medenine Monastir Nabeul Sfax Sidi Bouzid Siliana Sousse Tataouine...
, given that representatives from Tunis and the Mediterranean coast have so far dominated Tunisian politics. On 27 October, ISIE disqualified the Petition's lists in six constituencies (with altogether eight elected candidates) for financial irregularities. Thus, the number of seats was brought down to 19, still making Al Aridha the fourth largest in the convention. ISIE's decision to cancel seats triggered violent protests of Popular Petition supporters in Sidi Bouzid. Party leader Hechmi Hamdi asked his successful candidates to resign and boycot the Constituent Assembly, before reversing this decision on 28 October when he announced that the list's representatives would work in the parliamentary opposition. Following Popular Petition's complaint before the Administrative Court, the electoral commission's decision was mostly revoked: seven of the cancelled seats were reinstated by the judge's verdict, giving the populist party 26 seats altogether. However, twelve of its parliament members resigned from the party in the following days and declared themselves independent.