TUNIS: Tunisia’s interim president Foued Mebazaa on Thursday congratulated a top-level council for "succeeding in its mission" of steering through political and electoral reforms as it wound up its work.
Presided by jurist Yahd Ben Achour, the last meeting of the high council was held in Bardo palace, attended by Mebazaa and Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi, with police out in force outside, an AFP correspondent said.
Set up after in February, after the dictatorial Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali fled a popular uprising on January after 23 years in power, the council was tasked with undertaking political reforms and bringing about a democratic transition.
"The high council has succeeded in its mission, notably in setting up the ISIE (electoral commission). (…). There has been no vacancy in the institutions of state," Mebazaa said, closing the meeting.
Tunisians hold elections on October 23, to vote for a constituent assembly that will draw up a new constitution. Nearly 11,000 candidates are to contest the elections in 27 districts, with opinion polls showing that the profusion has left voters undecided.
During nine months and under a lot of pressure, the steering committee has given the north African country a new electoral code and established rules for the financing of political parties.
Ben Achour on several occasions expressed his commitment to success "in the interest of the revolution" and told AFP that "we have pulled off a miracle" in May by drawing up the electoral law in three weeks.
