According to Belkacem Ayachi, a member of the Higher Independent Election Authority, the entire budget for the two rounds of local council elections in Tunisia could reach around 50 million Tunisian dinars.
The first round, which took place this Sunday, cost almost 40 million dinars. Ayachi, in a statement to the TAP, specified that this amount should increase with the organization of the second round planned for February.
Ayachi also indicated that the average cost of an election in Tunisia is around 50 million dinars. These costs are split between electoral materials and logistical expenses. The majority of the budget is assigned to the organization of polling day, mostly benefiting public institutions such as the Ministry of Defense, the Official Printing Office, and the public media.
The electoral authority has devised a similar budget for the next presidential and municipal elections, i.e. around 50 million dinars for each election.
Election Context
For the first time, Tunisia organized direct local elections for 2,434 seats in 279 local councils spread across all delegations in the country. These elections saw the participation of 6,177 candidates, observing a historic turning point in the country’s political reform.
These elections, although costly, are essential for Tunisia’s democratic transition to a bicameral legislative system. They represent a notable investment in the political future of the country and in the consolidation of its emerging democracy.
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