Share

Egypt

Setting the Rules for the Tunisian Democratic Transition

 

Paris OECD Headquarters, France, 18 April 2011

 

A workshop and a seminar were held on the same day:

 

Workshop:
Supporting the Democratic Transition in Egypt and Tunisia’: Preparatory meeting for the creation of the Working Group IV Task Force on Legal and Constitutional Reform
 

Seminar:
Rules for the Tunisian Democratic Transition: The Role of the High Commission in Promoting Legal and Constitutional Reform in Tunisia

 

Workshop Overview

 

In preparation for the electoral processes which will pave the way towards the setting up of democratic institutions, new commissions have been appointed (Tunisia) or have received a renewed mandate to undertake comprehensive legal reforms (Egypt). Their role is to lead the process of democratic transition and ensure the set up of new constitutional and legal frameworks that give real voice to citizens and the parliament and promote sustainable economic and social development.


To sustain these reforms, which need to be based on sound principles for good legislation, including civic participation from all segments of society, the MENA-OECD Governance Programme organised a preparatory meeting for the creation of the Working Group IV Task Force on Legal and Constitutional Reform. This workshop on “Setting the Rules for Democratic Transition” took place on 18 April 2011 in Paris and gathered high level participants, including Professor Yadh Ben Achour, President of the High Commission for the Realisation of Revolution Objectives, Political Reforms and Democratic Transition; and Mr. Alaa Kotb, vice president of the State Council of Egypt. The workshop included discussions on the experiences of Portugal, Chile and the Czech Republic.

 

 Workshop Outcomes

 

Participants agreed that the group, initially composed by Tunisia and Egypt, could be extended to countries that announce constitutional reform. The work of the Task Force will be supported by OECD peers who will share their experience on the transition process to democracy.

 

 Seminar Overview

 

Popular demands for democracy and good governance have produced unprecedented political change in the political landscape in the Middle East and North Africa. Tunisia was the first country in the MENA region where the democratic aspirations of citizens were strongly expressed, changes occurred rapidly and the transition process started. New institutions have emerged to conduct the process of democratic transition in Tunisia. Among them, the High Commission for the Realisation of Revolution Objectives, Political Reforms and Democratic Transition (High Commission), created on 18th of February 2010 under presidential decree, leads the process of legal and institutional reform.

 

To discuss the role of the High Commission in the democratic transition process in Tunisia, a seminar was held back to back with the preparatory meeting for the creation of the Task Force on Legal and Constitutional Reform (see information on the Seminar above). The seminar was attended by high level representatives from Tunisia, OECD delegations, researchers and journalists from MENA and OECD countries. Participants to this seminar engaged in a rich discussion with the President of the High Commission, Professor Yadh Ben Achour, and Mr. Ghazi Gherairi, Spokesman of the High Commission, who shared their first-hand experiences with preparing the ground for the first democratic elections in Tunisia.

 

 Documentation for both meetings

 

Agenda for the workshop pdf

List of participants for the workshop, pdf

List of participants for the seminar, pdf

Flyer for the seminar pdf

 

Related Documents