constituteproject.org PDF generated: 18 Apr 2016, 15:30 Article 74 • Eligibility for head of state Every male and female voter who holds Tunisian nationality since birth, whose religion is Islam shall have the right to stand for election to the position of President of the Republic. • Minimum age of head of state On the day of filing the application for candidacy, the candidate must be at least 35 years old. • Eligibility for head of state If the candidate has a nationality other than the Tunisian nationality, he or she must submit an application committing to abandon the other nationality if elected president. • Head of state selection The candidate must have the support of a number of members of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People or heads of elected local authority councils, or of registered voters, as specified by the election law. • Head of state selection • Scheduling of elections • Secret ballot • Head of state term length • Claim of universal suffrage Article 75 The President of the Republic is elected for a five-year term during the last sixty day period of the presidential term by means of universal, free, direct, secret, fair, and transparent elections, by an absolute majority of votes cast. In the event that no candidate achieves such a majority in the first round, a second round shall be organized during the two weeks following the announcement of the definitive results of the first round. Only the two candidates having won the highest number of votes during the first round may stand for election in the second round. In the event of the death of one of the candidates during the first or second round, nominations shall be reopened and new dates for elections shall be set within no more than forty-five days. Withdrawal of candidates from the first or second round will not affect the election. • Emergency provisions In the event of failure to hold the presidential elections as a result of imminent danger, the term of presidency shall be extended through passing a law. • Head of state term limits The office of presidency cannot be occupied by the same person for more than two full terms, whether consecutive or separate. In the case of resignation, the term counts as a full term. • Unamendable provisions The constitution may not be amended to increase the number or the length of presidential terms. • God or other deities • Oaths to abide by constitution Article 76 The elected President of the Republic shall swear the following oath before the Assembly of the Representatives of the People: “I do solemnly swear, by God Almighty, to maintain the independence of Tunisia and the integrity of its territory, to respect its Constitution and legislation, to safeguard its interests, and to remain absolutely loyal to it”. The President of the Republic may not combine a partisan position with that of President. • Foreign affairs representative • Head of state powers Article 77 The President of the Republic is responsible for representing the state. He/she is responsible for determining the general state orientations in the domains of defence, foreign relations and national security in relation to protecting the state and the national territory from all internal and external threats, after consultation with the Tunisia 2014 Page 16