Tunisia-Works of national consultation on decentralisation process begins in Tunis

Works of the national consultation on the decentralisation process have begun  Wednesday at the Convention Centre in Tunis.

This consultation intends to distinguish the numerous barriers which have been hindering the delegation of duties and the State’s power to the local authorities or public institutions.

The purpose of this consultation which is expected to last for 3 months under the framework of large-scale workshops, is to determine the priorities of the next stage and evaluate the experience of the local, political and administrative governance, Local Affairs Minister Lotfi Zitoun announced at a press conference held right before the start of the national consultation works. The consultation further strives to review the Code of Local Government and the electoral law.

Zitoun specified that this consultation includes “a road map” for the implementation of the decentralisation process.

It further includes thrusts associated to the local taxation in terms of the development of resources as well as governance and the election of regional councils by 2022.

The consultation on decentralisation concentrates on four main thrusts, particularly the assessment of decentralisation through the experience of the elected town councils in 2018, the implementation of the new Code of Local Government as part of establishing the local democracy and widening the powers of regional councils and local authorities.

A report on this consultation will be published to support this bill that will thereafter be published on November 19, 2020, on the occasion of the Local Government Day.

The Local Affairs Ministry is called upon to present at the House of People’s Representatives (HPR), an assessment of the progress made in the decentralisation process, as well as proposals on ways to develop and complete this process so as to further boost the local authority.

Former President of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) Mustapha Ben Jaafer is chairing the steering committee of this consultation with the assistance of the Prime Ministry.

TAP