Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Hella Lahbib
Published on 2024-03-17 09:00:14
The bills, legislative texts, and legislative proposals are presented by the executive to Parliament, and the law initiative is a shared competence belonging to both the government and parliamentarians. From submission to promulgation, and including examination, vote, and adoption, a legislative initiative goes through several stages.
The work of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) was recently the subject of a report published by the organization I Watch. To put it bluntly, the situation is mixed. Indeed, the report lists approved laws by the Assembly. Around 37 projects were presented by the executive, while only one legislative proposal was submitted by the deputies.
The majority of projects submitted by the Presidency of the Republic were unanimously adopted by Parliament, most of which are related to agreements and loans. The number of projects related to amending or enacting new laws amounts to 11, and 6 texts are related to state finances and budget.
As for the parliamentarians, they have submitted a single legislative proposal on “criminalizing normalization with the Zionist entity.” The text passed the parliamentary commission stage and was submitted for debate in the plenary session. The plenary session, which almost turned into a brawl, was adjourned without any follow-up until today.
It must be reiterated that normalization is not on the agenda. It is definitively rejected by the people and the authorities, up to the highest levels of the state. The issue is not even up for discussion. However, such a text with unclear formulations, if adopted, could jeopardize the nation’s supreme interests. Tunisia has strong ties with brotherly and friendly countries. These important partners do as they please. That is their business, and it is a sovereign matter.
Instead of beating around the bush, the elected officials would do better to address the concerns of Tunisians more effectively, by trying to propose laws to improve the lives of citizens, the functioning of institutions, etc.
In Tunisia, there has always been unanimous consensus on the Palestinian cause. A fundamental principle that has transcended generations, partisan divides, political regimes, and time. Yet, the deputies have not found anything better to do than to revert to old demagogic reflexes of no use. Montesquieu said it well in his time; “Useless laws weaken necessary laws.”
Read the original article(French) on La Presse Tunisie
