Herwig van Staa, President of the Congress, welcomed the promulgation on 27 January of the new Constitution of the Tunisian Republic, emphasising that the Constitution represented a great step forward in the development of democracy in the country, and a major hope for all countries in the region. He especially commended the high importance attached by the new Tunisian Constitution to local government, comprising municipalities, regions and districts. “The Congress has worked with the Venice Commission on the questions relating to local and regional democracy since the formation in 2011 of the National Constituent Assembly. We are now ready to deepen our ties with the newly elected local and regional authorities in Tunisia – particularly in the preparation of the local electoral legislation, in the observation of local and/or regional elections, and in training and support for elected representatives,” said the President. “The Congress will help strengthen co-operation with Tunisia, specifically by way of the future “Partner for Local Democracy” status which will be open to local and regional authorities of the states in the Council of Europe neighbourhood,” he added.

Press release
Full text of the declaration