Tunis 24 September 2004--The majority party's slates of candidates for legislative elections reflect a number of "ground breaking decisions" Tunisian newspapers point out.

The Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) is expected to officially file its slates today. Media commentaries are already emphasizing however the changes reflected by its candidacy lists.

The RCD holds 80% of the seats in parliament since the 1999 elections. Five opposition parties share the remaining seats based on an provision in the election law allocating 20% of the seats to political parties which do not the majority of votes in the various electoral districts.

Independent daily "Le Temps" points out that 38 out of the party's 152 legislative candidates to the legislative elections are women. The RCD had fielded 20 candidates in 1999. The higher figure for 2004 comes after a decision by President Zine El Abdidine Ben Ali that the majority party (which he chairs) will include no less than 25% of women candidates in its legislative slates. If the RCD, as expected, carries the majority in next elections, women will win at least 20% of the seats in the Tunisian parliament after next elections. It would be the highest ratio of women in Tunisia 's parliament since independence.

Presidential and legislative elections will take place on October 24, 2004 .

Tunisian columnists have not missed on the fact that no member of government has presented his candidacy to the legislative elections. "It is an expression of an obvious desire to separate executive and legislative functions", said a "Le Temps" commentator. The mass-circulation daily "Al Shourouq" calls this a "heavy-weight surprise and a "ground-breaking precedent".

It is the first-time since independence that members of government will not run for parliament.

"Echourouq" and "Assabah" note also that more than 60% of the RCD candidates are running for the first time ever to parliament.