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Reuters
TUNIS — Tunisia's new constitution, which gives the president far greater powers, is due to come into force after the official electoral commission announced the final results of last month's referendum on Tuesday. there is
The referendum vote was 96% yes, with 31% of voters participating, little change from the preliminary results announced last month.
Opponents of President Kais Said said the new constitution would undermine Tunisia's democratic gains from the 2011 revolution by giving the president largely unrestrained powers. there is
They criticized the process by which he drafted the Constitution as illegal and one-sided, and criticized the referendum after he replaced the electoral commission's committee.
Said and his supporters said the political system must change to save Tunisia from years of stagnation and political paralysis, with Said Defended the process that passed the Constitution.
Last week, the court dismissed an objection to the ballot.
Under Said's orders to announce the referendum, the new constitution will come into force upon publication in the Official Gazette following the announcement of the final results. The promulgation of the constitution was expected soon. (Reporting by Mohamed Argoubi; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Grant McCool)
