News Highlights
Tunisia approved a new constitution that would turn the country back into a presidential system.
Key News takeaways.
- According to preliminary results, 94.6% of voters backed the new Constitution in the referendum.
Where is Tunisia?
- Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa.
- It is a part of the Maghreb region of North Africa.
- Capital – Tunis
- Borders of Tunisia:
- West and Southwest – Algeria
- Southeast – Libya
- North and East – Mediterranean Sea
What happened to the Arab Spring?
- The Arab Spring protests began in Tunisia in 2010.
- That led to the fall of the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had been in power since 1987.
- Quickly, protests spread to other Arab countries such as Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria.
- The protesters brought down the 30 year long dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.
- In 2013, in Tunisia, the military seized power, toppling the elected government of President Mohammed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood leader.
What led to the political crisis in Tunisia?
- The 2014 Constitution put in place a mixed parliamentary and presidential system.
- The voters directly elected both the President and Parliament.
- In the democratic elections, the Islamist Ennahda party emerged as the leading political force in the country.
- The country had nine governments between 2011 and 2021.
What are the critical changes in the new Constitution?
- Under the new constitution, the President will have ultimate authority to form a government, name ministers, appoint judges, and present legislation directly to the legislature.
Content Source: The Hindu
Pic Courtesy: freepik