Tunisia Assembly Begins to Wade through Electoral Law

Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly or parliament on Friday began voting article by article on a new electoral law to govern legislative and presidential elections due before the end of 2014.

Just 139 of a total of 217 deputies were on hand to examine the articles before the assembly's vice president, Meherzia Laabidi, adjourned to try to reach an agreement how to proceed.

By 1500 GMT, just two items had been adopted and 168 others remain to be voted on by April 27, the date set by the assembly to conclude its consideration of the law.

The clause-by-clause process had already been delayed pending the adoption of another law allowing the creation of a body responsible for reviewing its constitutionality, which finally happened this week.

The planned elections aim to create permanent institutions in the country that spawned the Arab Spring but remains plagued by prolonged political crises, social conflict and the rise of jihadist groups.

The body responsible for organising the elections still has no budget, no office and no legislation on which to base its work.

The constitution allows for a dual executive system with the prime minister exercising the pivotal role but accountable to parliament.