- Title: Restive election climate could deepen Tunisia's political impasse
- Date: 4th October 2019
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE, BASMAH AL-KHALAFAWY, DELIVERING SPEECH ON STAGE AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) STUDENT, MARIAM KAMEL, SAYING: "In these parliamentary elections? I have no opinion of them and none of the candidates have me convinced, nor does their campaign agenda. I will not vote for any of them in the parliamentary election." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SEATED AS ELECTION RALLY UNDERWAY ELECTION VEHICLE DRIVING THROUGH STREET WITH POSTER READING (Arabic): 'Errahma Party' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) STUDENT, NAZEM BEN EID, SAYING: "The second demand is an economic and societal one. Not once in the past (almost) 9 years since the revolution have we seen a political party with an effective program that would help lift society economically and socially. Therefore, there must be real agendas that will be the foundation of this change."
- Embargoed: 18th October 2019 21:46
- Keywords: Tunisia Parliamentary Elections DIscontent Voting Economy
- Location: TUNIS, TUNISIA
- City: TUNIS, TUNISIA
- Country: Tunisia
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA003AZON6FB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dissatisfaction with established parties in Tunisian politics means parliamentary elections on Sunday (October 6) may not yield a clear winner, complicating the process of coalition building at a pivotal moment for the economy.
Eight years after the revolution which triggered the "Arab spring" uprisings, many Tunisians have grown disillusioned with an establishment that has failed to improve living standards.
Though Tunisian politics has long involved secular and Islamist groups competing in elections then sharing power, an emerging populism threatens an end to compromise.
Three weeks ago, in a separate, presidential election, voters turned on all the main players in government, rejecting prominent politicians to send a pair of political newcomers through to a second-round runoff.
Under Tunisia's 2014 constitution, a prime minister drawn from the biggest party in parliament controls most domestic policy, while the president is only directly in charge of the foreign and defense briefs.
With unemployment at about 15% nationally, and 30% in some cities, and with the government in the middle of efforts to rein in inflation that hit 7.8% last year, any political paralysis could be dangerous.
(Production: Sayed Sheasha, Muhammed Abughaneya, Seham Eloraby) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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