Tunisia-Al-Karama Coalition initiative to revise decree-law on organisation of audio-visual sector judged unconstitutional

Presidents of constitutional and public authorities on Friday ruled “unconstitutional” the legislative initiative presented by Al-Karama Coalition to amend some articles of the decree-law No. 2011-116, on the organisation of the audiovisual sector.

In a joint statement, they said that this initiative breaches the eighth point of Article 148 of the constitution. This article stipulates that the Independent Audiovisual Communication Authority continues to exercise its functions until the election of the Audiovisual Communication Authority.

The signatories of the declaration considered that Al Karama Coalition’s initiative is likely to pave the way for attempts to seize control of the information sector by subjecting the Independent Broadcasting Regulatory Authority to party quotas.

“These are repeated attempts to call into question the credibility of constitutional authorities and independent public authorities and thereby reduce their prerogatives,” the signatories of the statement warned.

They also called on the Prime Minister to submit the draft organic law on freedom of audiovisual communication, which the current authority has been working to complete since 2015.

Among the signatories of the statement are the Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HAICA), the National Anti-Corruption Authority (INLUCC), the Access to Information Authority, the High Committee for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data (INPDP).