Tunisian President Kais Saied late Thursday announced the date for country-wide local, and regional elections on Dec. 24.
According to the presidential decree published in the Official Gazette, a second round of local elections will be held after the announcement of the results of the first round.
Analysts believe that local and regional elections will take place before President Saied appoints members to the second chamber of parliament, known as the National Council of Regions and Districts.
Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that has aggravated the country’s economic conditions since 2021 when Saied ousted the government and dissolved parliament.
Following the move, Saied managed to pass a new constitution in July 2022 through a referendum and held parliamentary elections in December of the same year, amid a boycott by most of Saied’s opponents.