Joint Parliamentary Committees, Irreconcilable Positions, and a Law Already in Force Back on the Table
On Monday, 23 February 2026, the Finance and Budget Committee and the Governance and Administrative Organization Committee held a joint session devoted to hearing the authors of the bill that seeks to repeal Article 53 on electronic invoicing. The meeting highlighted the deep fractures within the Assembly on this issue, pitting supporters of a total abolition of the article against those who argue that the current framework can be amended rather than scrapped.
What is at stake?
The debate centres on a draft law proposing the complete repeal of Article 53, the provision that legally underpins the electronic invoicing system. According to Mosaïque FM, the initiators of the proposal were heard this morning in the hemicycle, where their arguments quickly revealed two opposing readings of the same reality.
Issam Chouchan – From Digital Champion to Abolition Advocate
One of the bill’s signatories, Issam Chouchan, traced the path that led him to his current stance. A self‑declared promoter of digitalisation, he had never imagined questioning the article, even through amendment. “Listening to investors and the ministries involved changed my assessment,” he explained. “If the government itself cannot implement the system, it cannot legitimately demand that small businesses comply with it.” Consequently, he backs the full removal of Article 53.
Halim Bousema – Technical Flaws and Data‑Protection Risks
His colleague, Halim Bousema, directed the criticism toward the technical side. He argues that the system as it stands fails to meet basic personal‑data‑protection standards. Worse, it opens the door to the commercialisation of invoices, creating conditions for unfair competition among operators.
Sami Rais – Sovereignty Concerns
Sami Rais extended the argument by pointing to a sovereignty risk. The Tunisia Trade Net (TTN) network would gain access to all data generated by the system. He questioned the “fully Tunisian” nature of TTN, warning that this could expose domestic and international trade flows to uncontrolled vulnerabilities. He also noted that data traffic is already a documented reality.
Voices Defending the Existing Law
Opposing the critics, two deputies defended the current legislation.
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Faten Nsibi (member of the Administrative Organization Committee) rejected the repeal, deeming the expressed concerns disproportionate. She argued for coherence: “Removing an article whose application has already begun would penalise operators who have invested effort to integrate the system, directly contradicting the principle of fiscal equity.”
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Saber Masmoudi reminded the Assembly that the text was adopted with 107 votes. While acknowledging gaps in its preparation, he refused to draw the same conclusion as the abolitionists. “The shortcomings call for corrective measures, not the outright disappearance of the existing legislative framework,” he said.
Read also: Electronic invoicing: Parliament studies postponing sanctions
The link above leads to a related article discussing the Parliament’s consideration of delaying penalties linked to electronic invoicing.
