Tunisian President ratifies electoral law

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has legally approved the formation an independent election authority, after it was ratified by the National Constituent Assembly. Last week, proposals to set up a 36-member independent electoral body were passed by the Assembly, after 120 representatives voted in favour of the law, which was opposed by the Democratic Bloc representatives. Mohammad Hamidi from the Bloc said he wanted the ratification to be postponed, describing it as a "hasty action." He also criticised the Assembly for failing to present a final and modified version of the law, and for adding chapter 35, which gives the government the right to re-elect up to two board member from a previous election authority.