Millions of Tunisians head to the polls on Sunday to elect their representatives at the popular assembly, in the second such vote since the 2011 revolution.
Voters flocked to schools all over the country of to take their place in line, before polling booths opened at 8am. Voting began across the country at 08:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Sunday, with some seven million people being eligible to elect their representatives at thethe 217-member chamber.
More than 1,500 lists and 15,000 candidates, including from registered political parties as well as independents, are vying for the 217-seat chamber.
Voters are demanding better living conditions and a boost in the economy.
Why it is imporant to vote ?
Voting is a basic process that keeps a nation’s governmental system works. It enables the citizens to choose their own government. It also allows the people to choose their representatives in the government.
The purpose of every government is to develop and implement various policies for the benefit of its citizens.
Following the 2011 uprising, Tunisians opted for a mixed parliamentary-presidential system with the president's role largely confined to foreign affairs and defence.
Under the terms of the 2014 constitution, parliament is charged with nominating a prime minister, who is then tasked with forming a government and running day-to-day affairs.
Sustaining democracy
Today's election comes eight years after Tunisians rose up to abolish autocratic rule and introduce democracy in a revolution that inspired the so-called Arab Spring. The parliamentary elections will be major milestones in the country’s path toward becoming a consolidated, liberal democracy.
Tunisia will be passing Samuel Huntington’s two-turnover test, where democracies “may be viewed as consolidated if the party or group that takes power in the initial election at the time of transition loses a subsequent election and turns over power to those election winners, and if those election winners then peacefully turn over power to the winners of a later election“. This has implications far beyond Tunisia’s borders.
Only Through Voting Will We See Change
Tunisian youth want change. But to get change, they must be active participants in civil society. The first thing we can do to support the democratic system is to vote. Then it’s to encourage people we know to vote. Then, identify the factors that keep people from voting and work on a solution. Casting your vote for people who will deliver in your best interests is the only path to make change.