Government and Politics of Tunisia

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

Legal System

based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed HACHANI (since 1 August 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 October 2024 (next to be held in 2029); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Kais SAIED reelected for a second term; percent of vote - Kais SAIED 90.7%, Ayachi ZAMMEL 7.4%, Zouhair MAGHZAOUI 1.9%

Legislative Branch

Tunisia's legislature has undergone significant transformation following the 2022 constitutional referendum, which established a new unicameral parliament replacing the previous bicameral structure. The current legislature is the unicameral Assembly of the Representatives of the People (Majlis Nawwab al-Sha'b), consisting of 161 seats. Members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. A second chamber, the National Council of Regions and Districts, was also established under the 2022 constitution as an upper advisory body, with 77 members representing Tunisia's regions and districts. Elections for the reconstituted Assembly of the Representatives of the People were held in December 2022, the first under the new constitutional framework. Voter turnout was notably low. The elections were largely boycotted by major opposition parties and civil society groups, resulting in a chamber composed predominantly of independents aligned with President Kais Saied's political agenda. A second round was held in January 2023 to resolve seats where no candidate achieved a majority in the first round. The 2022 constitution, approved by referendum in July 2022, significantly expanded presidential powers and reduced the legislature's role compared to the post-2011 democratic transition framework. The previous bicameral structure — consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Advisors — had itself been suspended in July 2021 when President Saied invoked emergency powers and dissolved the sitting parliament.

Judicial Branch

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political Parties

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ali HALOUANI]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Nejib CHEBBI]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]

Head of State

President Kais SAIED

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ahmed HACHANI

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Constitution

1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Independence

20 March 1956 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 20 March (1956)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MICAH, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Nejib HACHANA chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador William J. HUDSON embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053, Tunisia mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] 71 107-000 FAX: [216] 71 107-090

Capital City

Tunis

Location

36 48 N, 10 11 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

History

three possibilities exist for the derivation of the name; originally a Berber settlement (earliest reference 4th century B.C.), the strategic site fell to the Carthaginians (Phoenicians) and the city could be named after the Punic goddess Tanit, since many ancient cities were named after patron deities; alternatively, the Berber root word "ens," which means "to lie down" or "to pass the night," may indicate that the site was originally a camp or rest stop; finally, the name may be the same as the city of Tynes, mentioned in the writings of some ancient authors

U.S. Embassy in Tunis Les Berges du Lac 1053 Tunis, Tunisia Telephone: (216) 71-107-000, Fax: (216) 71-964-360 Email: consulartunis@state.gov

Military Branches

Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Tunisian Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'Tunisia)

Service Age and Obligation

20-23 years of age for compulsory service, one year service obligation; 18-23 years of age for voluntary service; Tunisian nationality required