Government (Tunisia)
====================


     Names:
      conventional long form:
       Republic of Tunisia
      conventional short form:
       Tunisia
      local long form:
       Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
      local short form:
       Tunis
     Digraph:
       TS
     Type:
       republic
     Capital:
       Tunis
     Administrative divisions:
       23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan,
       Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef, Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul,
       Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana, Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan
     Independence:
       20 March 1956 (from France)
     Constitution:
       1 June 1959
     Legal system:
       based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of
       legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
     National holiday:
       National Day, 20 March (1956)
     Political parties and leaders:
       Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (RCD), President BEN ALI (official
       ruling party); Movement of Democratic Socialists (MDS), Mohammed MOUAADA;
       five other political parties are legal, including the Communist Party
     Other political or pressure groups:
       the Islamic fundamentalist party, An Nahda (Rebirth), is outlawed
     Suffrage:   20 years of age; universal
     Elections:
      President:
       last held 2 April 1989 (next to be held NA March 1994); results - Gen. Zine
       el Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition
      Chamber of Deputies:
       last held 2 April 1989 (next to be held NA April 1994); results - RCD 80.7%,
       independents/Islamists 13.7%, MDS 3.2%, other 2.4%; seats - (141 total) RCD
       141
     Executive branch:
       president, prime minister, Cabinet
     Legislative branch:
       unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab)
     Judicial branch:
       Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
     Leaders:
      Chief of State:
       President Gen. Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)
      Head of Government:
       Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)