Tunis, 05/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - Tunisia voted three times at the end of 2014 and has thus totally renewed the structures of its State, putting an end to a transition phase that lasted for three years and led the country into an unprecedented institutional and economic crisis, and a rise in terrorism.
The presidential and parliamentary elections (and municipal elections at an unspecified time) were the opportunity for the Tunisian citizens to mark their refusal of “political Islam” and to opt for institutions of a civil nature, separating religion and State.
In the view of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, the essential issue, for the moment, is that the Tunisian people were able “to express themselves freely on the choice of president for the first time”. This is “a new stage in the consolidation of Tunisia's democratic transition”.
“We have also taken note of the preliminary statement from the head of the European Union electoral observation mission. Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck stated that the organisation of the presidential election was credible and transparent and that the campaign was conducted in a calm and pluralist atmosphere”, said Mogherini.
The efforts of the Tunisian authorities and the higher independent body for the elections enabled good organisation to be ensured of this first round of the presidential election, as well as the security of the electors, the EU stated.
Calm and regularity of the successive votes were witnessed by the international observers, including from the Council of Europe and from the EU, led by liberal MEP Neyts-Uyttebroeck MEP.
The outcome of the voting is now sealed, despite a protest from the outgoing president who has finally admitted his defeat and agreed to give up his post to Beji Caid Essebsi - who was elected with 55% of the vote. The transfer of power, another unprecedented occurrence in the Arab world, took place calmly. A government is due to be formed in the coming days.
The event gives hope to the Tunisians and their main partners again - Maghrebi and European - of restoring stability and security in the country, of attracting investors and finally enabling implementation of aid programmes previously decided (especially at Deauville in May 2011). The phase that has now opened should also enable negotiations with the EU to be resumed on various chapters (including trade, services and mobility), which have slowed down over the past year or more due to the difficult circumstances.
“We reiterate our commitment to support the future authorities as well as Tunisian society in this direction. In a spirit of friendship and trust, we call for the privileged partnership to be strengthened between Tunisia and the EU through all its components”, Mogherini stated (our translation throughout). (FB)