New bill suggests ethical code covering political life in Tunisia

The Homeland Party opposition bloc in the Tunisian parliament has suggested new legislation covering the ethics of political life and aiming to counter possible violations, Anadolu reported on Tuesday.

The head of the bloc, Riyad J’edan, told a press conference in Tunis that the proposed law opposes violations such as moving from one parliamentary bloc or political party to another while in office, nepotism, dealing with foreign organisations and not attending parliamentary sessions. Explaining the proposed bill, J’edan said that it stipulates that all such violations should be classified as “treason” because the MP who moves from one party to another deceives his supporters who voted for him on the grounds of his original affiliation.

The transparency of political activities, he added, will be monitored by a national commission to be formed if the bill becomes law. Anyone who violates the law, if passed by parliament, could be fined up to 100,000 Tunisian Dinars ($34,000) and banned from participation in political life if state resources were used for electoral gain.

In April, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed announced that he would start discussions with all of the country’s political factions and national bodies to agree on an ethical code for political life which could be agreed upon by everyone.

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