Several measures have been taken to promote pluralism and democracy in Tunisia .

Amendment of the constitution (1988)

Suppression of presidency for life and of automatic succession to the Presidency of the Republic, in order to consolidate popular sovereignty.

Promulgation of the law organizing political parties (1988)

Amendment of the Electoral Code :

in 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2000 and 2003 .

Pluralism was introduced to the Chamber of Deputies by the 1994 legislative elections. This pluralist choice was consolidated by the promulgation of the organic law 1998-93 dated November 6, 1998, amending and completing certain provisions of the Electoral Code. This reform allowed the opposition parties to have at least 20% of the total number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, following the legislative elections of October 1999.

Promulgation of the law 97-48 of July 21, 1997 :

This law pertained to the public financing of political parties, in order to consolidate their resources and guarantee the accomplishment of their political role. This law came to reinforce the measures already provided for by the Electoral Code concerning the financing of the election campaign of candidates to the Presidency of the Republic, to the Chamber of Deputies and to Municipal Councils. This financing takes the form of advance payments, reimbursement of expenses or the State's bearing of the costs of printing ballot papers (Electoral Code).

Promulgation of the constitutional law 1997-65 of October 27, 1997 :

amending some articles of the constitution and completing some of their provisions. The amendments consecrate political parties and the multi-party system in the constitution, define the role of parties, the conditions of their creation and the democratic principles governing their activities. They also widen the scope of the referendum, the mechanism of direct expression of popular sovereignty, to the lowering of the minimum age of candidacy to the Chamber of Deputies, which was brought down to 23 years, as well as to the right to candidacy to the Chamber of Deputies to all any citizen of a Tunisian mother. This measure came to consecrate equality between men and women, knowing that the right to candidacy was, up to then, exclusively enjoyed by Tunisians of Tunisian fathers.

Promulgation of the law 1999-27 dated March 29, 1999 :

completing the law 1997-48 of July 21, 1997 , concerning the public financing of political parties. Under the new law, an annual grant is offered to political parties as a contribution to cover the costs of paper and the printing of their newspapers. This law was followed by an enforcement decree 1999-762 dated April 10, 1999 , setting the annual grant offered to support the press of political parties press, and defining the procedures and modalities of its distribution.

Promulgation of the constitutional law 1999-52 of June 30, 1999 :

including dispensatory provisions to paragraph 3 of article 40 of the constitution. This law reinforces pluralism in the 1999 presidential election, by allowing the first officials of opposition parties (president or secretary general) to stand as presidential candidates, in case the condition of presentation of candidates, provided for in the above-stated article of the constitution, cannot be fulfilled. However, the candidate shall, on the day he presents his candidacy, have held that position for at least five consecutive years and his party shall have one or more members in the Chamber of Deputies.

The first pluralist presidential elections in the history of Tunisia were held on October 24, 1999 . The legislative elections held on the same day consecrated the pluralist choice. The presence of the Opposition in the Chamber of Deputies was reinforced to reach 34 seats.

Promulgation of the law 2001-2 dated January 23, 2001 :

amending the law 1997-48 dated July 21, 1997 , concerning the public financing of political parties. This amendment increased the fixed part of the grant offered by the State to all political parties to help them meet the expenses of their activities.

Promulgation of the decree 2001-1496 dated June 22, 2001 :

amending the decree 1999-762 of April 10, 1999 , fixing the amount, modalities and procedures of the distribution of the annual grant covering the costs of political parties newspapers. By virtue of this decree, the amount of this grant was increased.

Promulgation of the organic law 2002-97 dated November 25, 2002 :

concerning the preparation for the system of permanent revision of electoral rolls. Article 2 of this law provides that the preparation process shall start on December 16, 2002 and end on September 16, 2003 .

Promulgation of the organic law 2003-58 dated August 4, 2003 :

amending the Electoral Code. This amendment came to reinforce the transparency of electoral operations, particularly by ensuring the neutrality of polling stations, and requiring the personal signature of the voter on the electoral roll.

The seceond pluralist presidential elections in the history of Tunisia were held on October 24,2004.

The legislative elections held on the same day anchored the democratic choice and increased the presence of the oppostion which obtained parliamentary seats.

Decree 2005-3065 dated December 1, 2005 :

amending Decree 1999-762 dated February 19, 1998 defining the forms of and modalities of the distribution of grants provided to political parties.

Decree 2005-3066 dated december 1,2005:

amending Decree 1999-762 dated April 10, 1999 setting the amount, modalities and procedures of the distribution of the annual grant subsidizing the newspapers of political parties.

Law 2006-7 dated November 22, 2007

amending law 1997-48 dated July 21,1997 concerning the public funding of political parties.

Decree 2007-3000 dated November 22,2007 :

amending Decree 1999-762 dated April 10, 1999 setting the amount, modalities and procedures of the distribution of the annual grant subsidizing the newspapers of political parties.

Law 2008-11 dated February 11,2008 :

amending Law 1997-48 dated July 21, 1997 concerning the public funding of political parties.

Constitutional Law 2008-52 dated July 28,2008 :

amending article 20 of the Constitution through special provisions to paragraph 3 of article 40 of the constitution.

Conclusion

The promotion of democracy and pluralism in Tunisia is an irrevocable choice and a tangible reality. The oppositon has joined the Chamber of Deputies and parliamentary commissions since the legislative elections of 1994.