Reform of the Local Authorities Code is Inevitable: It Can Withdraw Trust from Failing Municipal Councils
The Press — In March, environmental issues once again took center stage at the Carthage Palace. On this occasion, President Kaïs Saïed reminded the Minister of the Interior, Khaled Nouri, and the Minister of the Environment, Habib Abid, of the need to "redouble efforts" to protect the coastline and sanction any failures in local governance. "The situation is worsening day by day, and many parties are not playing their role as they should," he warned, particularly targeting municipalities responsible for ensuring urban cleanliness and waste collection. However, despite these presidential warnings, the situation remains largely unchanged, particularly regarding urban cleanliness and waste collection. Municipalities seem overwhelmed, lacking the technical and human resources (and will) to contain the mountains of waste accumulating daily in the streets. This structural inability is compounded by the persistent incivility of citizens, which only exacerbates an already alarming situation, sometimes leading to serious misconduct by municipal agents on the ground.
Municipalities Under Pressure, But Few Results
Presidential visits to various regions in recent months have highlighted glaring shortcomings. However, despite these occasional operations, pollution persists, fueled by poor organization and a blatant lack of follow-up by municipal officials. Environmental protection does not rely solely on institutions. Indeed, citizens, through their daily behavior, play a direct role in degrading the living environment. Incivility, even in seemingly innocuous gestures, has concrete and lasting consequences. Simply throwing a plastic bottle, packaging, or paper into the street contributes to the accumulation of waste, clogs drains, and fosters the proliferation of numerous nuisances. With the proliferation of fast food and take-out businesses, these practices have intensified, increasing pressure on cleaning services. Moreover, adult behavior directly influences young people. When parents themselves neglect public cleanliness, they transmit bad habits to their children, reinforcing a vicious cycle of incivility that durably undermines the quality of life and the image of cities.
Reform of the Local Authorities Code
In this context, Kaïs Saïed emphasized in April, on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of President Habib Bourguiba's death, the need to reform the Local Authorities Code and rethink the electoral system for future municipal elections. He criticized certain texts from 2015 and 2017, which he believes are responsible for divisions and weakening the state, and stressed the importance of strengthening national cohesion and administrative efficiency. The Head of State announced a reform of the local authorities code, allowing for the withdrawal of trust from failing municipal councils. The goal is to redefine the link between elected officials and voters based on a moral contract, where commitment is measured by concrete results, not partisan calculations.
Shared Responsibility
Ultimately, responsibility is shared, and the observation is unequivocal. Neither the state nor municipalities, nor citizens, can act alone. The fight against pollution requires both effective control and sanction mechanisms and genuine citizen ownership of public space. Protecting the environment is not only an institutional mission; it is a collective duty, essential for durably improving the living environment.
