to News Updates
Tunisia Online News Updates
http://www.tunisiaonline.com/news/news.html
Minister of the Interior holds press conference on referendum results
Tunis 27 May (TunisiaOnline)
In a press conference held Monday morning in Tunis, Minister of the interior Hedi M'henni presented the official results of the referendum. He also assessed the conditions in which the voting took place.
He said these conditions "clearly reflected the political maturity of Tunisian society" and illustrated the "exercise by the people of its sovereignty in total freedom and transparency."
He noted that the smooth organization of the campaign made it possible for voter registration cards to be adequately issued and delivered. He pointed out that six political parties applied for participation in the campaign but one of them, "Ettajdid party", decided to withdraw from the campaign although it had previously registered among parties speaking on public radio and television and was slated to receive the state subsidies allocated for campaign participation. The leadership of another opposition party, the democratic progressive party, chose also to boycott the referendum.
Four opposition parties (The Unionist Democratic Union, The Popular Unity Party, The Movement of Social Democrats and the Liberal Social Party) as well as ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally supported the constitutional reform and actively participated in the referendum campaign.
Mr M'henni also noted the presence in the polling stations of opposition representatives as well as the monitoring of the process by foreign observers and reporters.
Answering a question regarding the high rate of votes in favor of the amendments, the minister of the interior said such results "do not surprise Tunisians and should not surprise foreigners as they reflect a Tunisian reality with all its specificities, historic dimensions, and social and political features".
For more on the referendum:www.referendum-tunisia.org
Related Stories:
Tunisia referendum: polling stations close and voter turnout reaches 93.33 % at 6.00 pm
Tunisia referendum: voter turnout reaches 85 % at 4.00 pm
Tunisia referendum: voter turnout at 62 % at twelve noon
Voters go to the polls Sunday in first-ever referendumPresident Ben Ali reiterates invitation for foreign obververs and journalists to attend referendum
Chamber of Deputies adopts constitutional reform billPresident Ben Ali signs executive order calling for referendum
Trade Unions express support for Constitutional reform and vow massive participation in referendum
President Ben Ali Delivers Speech to Tunisian People
Tunisia: Cabinet Meeting examines constitutional reform billPresident Ben Ali announces constitutional reform initiative