Tunis:Decree-Law No. 4 of 2026, introduced on September 30, 2026, significantly alters the structure of municipal councils in Tunisia by emphasizing state unity and breaking from the previously established autonomous management outlined in the 2018 Local Authorities Code.

According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, President Kais Saied led a Council of Ministers meeting at Carthage Palace to discuss various draft decrees, including this new decree on municipal councils, which was subsequently published in the Official Gazette. The decree, comprising 140 articles in nine sections, restructures financial management and redefines the relationship between municipal councils and central authorities.

Legal expert Mohamed Dhifi explained that the decree's philosophy focuses on maintaining state unity, impacting the organization of municipal affairs and the relationship between municipal councils and government levels. Under this decree, governors have increased oversight over municipal budgets, acting as supervisory authorities, with the power to approve or amend budgets.

The decree positions municipal councils as local authorities with legal and financial autonomy, exercising powers within the state unity framework, differing from the 2018 code. The councils are tasked with deliberating local matters such as regulations, budgets, urban planning, and social development programs.

Financial management under this decree is closely tied to central authorities, particularly through the Ministries of Interior and Finance. Municipalities face legal obligations towards these central bodies, with budgetary support mechanisms maintained under new guidelines set by the Ministers of Interior and Finance.

Regarding territorial boundaries, the decree follows a non-fragmentation approach, aligning with the 2022 Constitution's emphasis on state unity. It also introduces rules for municipal council discipline and a national conference on municipal affairs every elected term.

Finally, Dhifi anticipates municipal elections by late 2026 or early 2027, ahead of a series of legislative, local council, and presidential elections in subsequent years.