Tunisia grants amnesty to officials accused of corruption

Tunisian President Béji Caid Essebsi yesterday approved a controversial law that grants an amnesty to public officials accused of corruption under the regime of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The president signed the Administrative Reconciliation Law after the Provisional Authority for Monitoring Law Constitutionality referred it to him, a statement by the presidency said.

The law aims to “create an atmosphere conducive to the liberalisation of entrepreneurship in the administration, the promotion of the national economy and the strengthening of confidence in state institutions.”

Accordingly, a general amnesty will be granted to state employees who made no financial gains from their positions.

Read: Tunisia grants protection to figures from 40 corruption cases

The Tunisian parliament approved the controversial law introduced by Essebsi in 2015 but opposition leaders challenged its constitutionality.

Opposition groups a number of national organisations took to the streets to protest against the law since it was first introduced saying it ensures impunity for corruption.