Tunis Events Calendar: Week of May 13, 2019 – May 19, 2019

Main photo: A series of stickers posted onto a column in the Lac 1 area of Tunis depicting Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi and “I [heart design] Bajbouj” using a popular diminutive nickname for the president, May 2, 2019, Meshkal news team.

Tunis Events Calendar: Week of May 13, 2019 – May 19, 2019

Monday, May 13, 2019

Tunis – Meshkal news team

Meshkal has compiled a calendar of political, cultural, and economic events taking place in Tunis this week.

Monday, May 13:

9:30 – Parliament’s Industry, Energy, Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Environment Committee is receiving a report on draft organic law no 69/2018 on the Commission of sustainable development and protection of future generations, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

10:00 – Parliament’s General Legislation Committee will hold a hearing with the Minister of Development and International Cooperation and a hearing with the Governor of the Central Bank regarding draft law No43/2018 on personal property, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

10:30 – Parliament’s Committee on Issues of Disabled Persons and Vulnerable Categories holds a hearing with representatives from NGOs for deaf persons, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

Tuesday, May 14:

9:00 – Full session of parliament (plenary session) to examine: draft law No9/2019 approving the loan agreement signed September 13, 2018 between Tunisia and the World Bank financing the initial study of the project of electricity linking Tunisia and Italy; draft law No16/2019 granting approval for the loan request concluded between the Tunisian government and the French Development Agency (AFD) for the state Electricity and Gas Company’s (STEG) “Smart Grid” project on electricity distribution, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

9:30 – Parliament’s Electoral Committee will follow up on the candidacies of the Human Rights Commission, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

10:00 – Protest called for by collective of retirees in front of the Prime Ministry, according to a post shared on the UGTT’s official Facebook page on Monday, May 13. Retirees are calling for an increase in retirement payments.

21:30 – UGTT is hosting a presentation by former high World Bank official, former Minister of Plan and former head of Tunisia’s Central Bank Mustapha Kamel Nabli “J’y Crois Toujours” The event is being hosted by the UGTT’s studies and documentation branch. Location: UGTT HQ, 29 place Med Ali, Tunis, Tunisia 1000

Wednesday, May 15:

9:00 – Parliament’s Finance, Planning and Development Committee will examine: the potential issue of bonds worth up to $800 million US on international financial markets to finance the 2019 state budget; draft law No.11/2019 approving a loan agreement signed between Saudi development funds and Tunisia December 13, 2018 for agricultural development in Joumine, Ghezala, and Sejnane; draft law No. 30/2019 approving the loan from Spain’s Official Credit Institute for a line of credit supporting small and medium project, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

21:30 – Presentation of the book “Tunisian Agriculture at the Crossroads” and discussion hosted by Afek (Horizon) political party. Location: Afek Party Headquarter, 12 bis, rue el imam muslim 31, Ariana, Tunisia

Thursday, May 16:

9:30 – Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, Food Security, Trade and Related Services will hold hearings on road transport regulations, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala. The hearings come in the midst of a national debate on the safety conditions of the transport of agricultural workers after a pick-up truck carrying women farmhands crashed on April 26 in the Sidi Bouzid governorate, killing 15. The minister of transport will be present at the hearing, which will look to amend a 2004 transport law regulating road transport.

Friday, May 17:

9:00? – Parliament’s Committee on Rights, Liberties, and External Relations is scheduled to hold a meeting, according to the official parliamentary website.

21:00 – Discussion on “Gender equality and women’s access to decision-making positions” hosted by the Center for Citizenship, Democracy, and Human Rights, with the Minister of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Neziha Labidi billed as attending according to the Facebook event. Location: Credif, Rue Farhat Ben Afia, Manar 3