The Bureau of the National Council of Regions and Districts is holding a meeting today to examine a motion to withdraw confidence from the Council’s president, Imed Derbali. The information was confirmed by MP Jemâa Zoueidi in an exclusive statement to Tunisie Numérique.
Verification of signatures and review of justifications
According to Jemâa Zoueidi, the examination of the motion is carried out, procedurally, through verification that the required legal number of signatures has been met, in addition to a review of the justifications provided in support of the motion.
Based on this assessment, the Bureau will decide whether to forward the motion to a plenary session or to reject it.
The MP stressed that, in principle, there is no issue with lawmakers resorting to Article 30 of the Council’s internal regulations, considering it a democratic mechanism that helps strengthen parliamentary practice.
However, he clarified that he is not among the signatories of the motion, stating that the reasons put forward are not convincing enough to justify withdrawing confidence from the head of a constitutional institution.
Majority of MPs did not sign the motion
Zoueidi further noted that the majority of members of the National Council of Regions and Districts did not sign the motion, estimating that it is unlikely to pass at this stage.
The MP described the timing of the motion as troubling, particularly as it coincides with the Council’s upcoming discussion of the 2026–2030 Development Plan.
He emphasized that this plan represents a key national project, built around the July 25 initiative and the philosophy of grassroots construction, aimed at breaking with earlier, largely symbolic development plans that, in his view, contributed to deepening regional disparities.
Call to overcome the crisis and preserve institutional unity
Jemâa Zoueidi expressed hope that the situation would be resolved peacefully, affirming that the majority of Council members demonstrate a high sense of responsibility, patriotism and commitment to institutional unity.
28 MPs behind the motion
For the record, 28 MPs out of a total of 77, representing more than one third of the Council’s members, submitted the motion to withdraw confidence from Imed Derbali last Friday to the central registry office of the Council.
The signatories described the move as a “historic corrective step”, intended to spark an “internal revolution against inertia and the dominance of shadow authority.”
In a statement to the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency, MP Ali Houssaoumi, one of the signatories, cited several reasons behind the initiative, including repeated violations of the Council’s internal regulations, unilateral decision-making, and the marginalization of MPs’ demands.
He also criticized the lack of reinforcement of the Council with qualified advisers, particularly in the economic and financial fields, which he said is necessary to improve the quality and effectiveness of parliamentary work.
A Council described as isolated from its environment
Ali Houssaoumi further argued that the Council has remained largely isolated from its surroundings for nearly a year and a half, noting that proposals from citizens, civil society organizations and other bodies are neither transmitted to MPs nor debated, leading to growing frustration over delays and institutional inertia.
He stressed that the motion does not target the president personally, but rather seeks to denounce certain governance practices and to bring about deep structural change in the functioning of the Council. He added that the motion remains open to additional signatures.
The legal framework under Article 30
Article 30 of the Council’s internal regulations stipulates that the National Council of Regions and Districts may withdraw confidence from its president or one of its vice-presidents by an absolute majority of members, based on a written and reasoned request submitted by at least one third of MPs to the Bureau and deposited with the central registry office.
The article further provides for the publication of the request within 24 hours, the convening of the Bureau within 72 hours, and a vote in plenary session within a period not exceeding three weeks. Any resulting vacancy is to be filled through the same electoral procedure outlined in the internal regulations.
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