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| Africa North |
| Tunisia Adopts Law on Independent Judicial Oversight |
| 2013-04-25 |
| [An Nahar] Tunisian MPs on Wednesday adopted a law creating a temporary independent body tasked with overseeing the judiciary, more than two years after the revolution and following months of disagreement. The law was adopted almost unanimously, with 151 votes in favor and four abstentions, according to national television which broadcast the debate. The judicial body must now be formed and replace the Superior Council of Magistrates which was in charge of appointing, promoting and disciplining judges, but lost its credibility as a tool of the ousted regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The creation of an independent judicial body was a key commitment of the National Constituent Assembly when it was first elected in October 2011, nine months after the revolution. Disagreement between opposition groups, the Islamist Ennahda party that heads the coalition government and their allies was the main reason for the lengthy delay in elaborating and adopting the law. The compromise adopted on Wednesday stipulates that the judicial authority be made up of magistrates, academics and lawyers, including ex-officio members and those elected by their peers, in order to avoid any political interference. |
| Posted by:Fred |