Election in Tunisia an important step forward

“The election of a national constituent assembly in Tunisia is an important step forward for the country,” commented Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“I am pleased to see that the first free election after the Arab Spring has been carried out peacefully and that there was a high voter turnout. This has a powerful symbolic effect, and sends an important signal to the whole region,” Mr Støre said.

The national constituent assembly is to appoint an interim government and draft a new constitution, thereby staking out the path for the new Tunisia.

“I was particularly pleased to see that women participated so actively in the election,” commented Mr Støre.