Tunisia: first majority vote in favour of recalling a local councillor

The board of Tunisia’s Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) approved the preliminary results of a recall vote against a member of the Tamerza local council, in Tozeur governorate, on Monday, September 28, 2026. The “yes” vote secured 52.43% of valid votes cast, compared with 47.57% for “no”.

Voting took place on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Based on the results, the ISIE board declared the councillor recalled, according to a statement issued by the authority.

Preliminary results approved

The ISIE board met under the chairmanship of Farouk Bouasker, with board members and representatives of the executive administration and the board’s office in attendance.

The meeting was devoted to approving the results of the ballot, which produced a majority in favour of recalling the councillor.

The board also ordered the decision on the preliminary results to be published on the authority’s official website and displayed at its headquarters and its regional office in Tozeur.

Loss of office and the vacant seat

According to the ISIE statement, the recall immediately ends the councillor’s membership of the Tamerza local council.

The authority said the seat would be considered vacant from the date the final decision is published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia. A local by-election will then be held in the constituency concerned to fill the vacancy.

The decision approved at this stage concerns the preliminary results. The statement therefore distinguishes this step from the subsequent publication of the final decision in the Official Gazette.

A ballot organised using the authority’s own resources

ISIE said recall votes are organised using its own resources, with “no significant expenditure”, according to its statement.

The information released did not, however, include a detailed breakdown of the cost of the operation.

 

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