Tunis, Tunisia - The President of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) in Tunisia, Farouk Bouasker, has announced that women constitute 12% of the candidates for the country's upcoming local elections. This disclosure was made during his visit to the Independent Local Authority for Elections (IRIE) in Zaghouan.

According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, as of Sunday, the total number of candidates for the local elections, set to be held on December 24, exceeded 7,400. This candidate pool includes 1,040 individuals with disabilities, highlighting a diverse range of participation. Additionally, 22% of these candidates are under the age of 35, indicating a significant youth presence in the upcoming elections.

Bouasker noted that candidates are representing all 2,084 localities across various Tunisian governorates. However, there are exceptions in the Galite locality in Bizerte and the Borj El Khadra locality in Tataouine, which will not have candidates due to their lack of population.

The ISIE president assured that the elected councils would be established swiftly after the final election results are announced. These councils will begin their functions in line with Law No. 87/1994 dated July 26, 1994, which pertains to the creation of local development councils. This arrangement is provisional, pending the publication of the amended version of the local government code.

The participation of women and individuals with disabilities in the elections reflects Tunisia's efforts towards inclusive political representation, while the high proportion of young candidates showcases the growing engagement of youth in the country's political process.