The elected members of Tunisia’s High Election Commission were sworn in on Wednesday at the presidential Palace in Carthage. The ceremony was attended by President Moncef Marzouki, caretaker Prime Minister Ali Larayedh and new premier Mehdi Jomaa. “Several things must be present so that the commission can do its work properly, including a free media that can convince citizens to go to polling stations during elections,” said Marzouki. The Tunisian leader called for holding parliamentary and presidential elections as early as possible to bring about a much-needed security to his country. “I hope we can hold the elections before the summer,” he said. Meanwhile, election commission chief Shafiq Sersar said he and his colleagues would work hard to hold successful, transparent and democratic elections. Sersar was elected head of the commission last Thursday.
The nine members of the independent commission were selected a day earlier. They include judges, lawyers, media professionals and economists.
Selecting the members and the head of the High Electoral Commission is an important step on the way of implementing a roadmap aiming to end the country’s political crisis.
Political tension has engulfed Tunisia since the February assassination of opposition leader Choukri Belaid.
The crisis intensified after a second assassination targeting leftist leader Mohamed al-Brahmi in July, which prompted mass rallies calling for the resignation of the Islamist-led government and the formation of a national salvation government.
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