The Tunisian Administrative Tribunal (AT) is playing an increasingly important role in guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of citizen, often its decisions support the weaker party in administrative disputes and the Court monitors the legal compliance of the Tunisian administration and public authorities. Despite this crucial role and an increasing number of decisions taken by the AT, the institution’s official communication about its activities remains very limited. As a first step to making its work more transparent and strengthening its relationship with the other institutions and the interested public, the AT made data from its annual reports available to the public during a meeting under the title “New trends in administrative case law in the light of reports of the AT” which was organised in partnership with DRI on 29 April 2019.
Over 230 participants, among them members of the AT, scholars, parliamentarians, representatives of the Tunisian civil society, lawyers and members of the independent constitutional bodies, discussed important issues related to the administrative case law, such as the role of the administrative judge in the protection of fundamental freedoms, the territorial jurisdiction of the AT in electoral disputes, the consultative role of the AT, and matters of general amnesty or medical liability. Moreover, specific findings on the 2018 municipal electoral disputes were assessed.
Attendees welcomed the opportunity to discuss information that used to be kept confidential. The exchanges particularly highlighted the problem of enforcing administrative justice decisions. Participants agreed that all the progress promoted by judges cannot be sustained if decisions are not implemented. National media widely reported on the event, which was also much discussed on social media.
DRI supported the event in the framework of its project “Support to Constitution Implementation in Tunisia – Phase III”, funded by the German Minstry of Foreign Affairs.