Tunisian Parliament under pressure to address priority social and economic demands

There is anticipation surrounding the key issues that Tunisian parliamentarians must address.

As the Assembly of the Representatives of the People of Tunisia (ARP) opens its new parliamentary session, attention is focused on the key issues that lawmakers must address in order to translate public expectations into concrete policies.

Political observers say there are several important items on the agenda at the Bardo Palace, including the state budget for 2026, initiatives to boost employment and purchasing power, and legislation regulating sports structures, among others.

The Assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary session on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. (local time), according to its official Facebook page. The agenda includes the opening of the fourth regular session 2025/2026, the filling of two vacant parliamentary seats, and the review of a bill authorising the State to subscribe to the 13th replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development for the period 2025-2027 (No. 20/2025).

Despite some initial progress, such as the submission of legislative proposals and the passage of some laws, analysts say Parliament must defend its credibility and rise to the challenges ahead.

Political analyst Mourad Allala told The Arab Weekly that the ARP faces a ‘battle for credibility,’ citing the case of MP Mohamed Ali, who was arrested after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the Gaza blockade, as proof of the parliament's stance on the Palestinian issue.

Allala added that while legislative activity is significant, parliamentarians often lack the capacity to pass initiatives.

‘They must also be bold in defending parliamentary projects; proposals cannot be left on the shelf and the Assembly must fully exercise its legislative role,’ he said.

Several bills are pending approval, including the law regulating sports structures, while others could be referred to the executive for implementation. The main challenge remains the state budget for 2026, which must meet citizens' expectations, align with President Kais Saied's programmes and reflect Tunisia's vision of a social democratic state.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri chaired a cabinet meeting at the Kasbah Palace to review the financial statements of the 2026 finance bill, describing it as a sovereign instrument that reflects the will of the people, translates the state's social and economic priorities and the 2026-2030 development plan, which advances from the local to the national level in accordance with Saied's vision.

Zenzri emphasised that the bill embodies the state's core policies, balancing social justice with economic growth.

In July, 26 MPs introduced Bill No. 83/2025, aimed at combating all forms of violence in stadiums and sports facilities, covering events and surrounding gathering areas throughout Tunisia. The penalties provided for in Article 7 range from six months to ten years in prison, with fines of 5,000 dinars for individuals and 50,000 dinars for clubs.

Recently, several MPs also proposed Bill No. 97/2025 on the adoption of a single-shift school system and the management of school time. The legislation would implement a continuous daily shift (morning or afternoon) with a maximum duration of five hours, with optional extracurricular activities outside these hours.