Tunis: "To date, we have no official information on the drafting of a text regulating the relationship between the Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) and the National Council of Regions and Districts (second chamber)," said Youssef Tarchoune, rapporteur of the ARP's Committee on Internal Regulations, Electoral Laws, Parliamentary Laws and the Electoral Function. In a statement to TAP, Tarchoune added that the committee is waiting for a legislative initiative from the government to regulate the relationship between the two parliamentary chambers. He added that this text should have been drafted before the establishment of the local, regional and district councils, which have begun to function without their powers being defined. Tarchoune pointed out that the committee had begun drafting a legislative initiative on this issue and had organised a study day in January on "Local authorities in the Constitution of July 25, 2022", pending the drafting of a text by the government. But for the parliamentar ian, the ARP cannot be judge and jury by proposing a legislative initiative to organise its relationship with the second chamber. However, the parliament can always make the changes it deems necessary to the draft. Tarchoune had told the TAP last January that his committee was in the process of drafting a bill to regulate relations between the two chambers, stressing that "the initiative coming from the Presidency of the Republic has priority in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution". Article 37 of Legislative Decree No. 10/2023 on the organisation of local elections and the composition of regional and district councils stipulates that "the President of the Republic shall convene the National Council of Regions and Districts to meet within a period not exceeding 15 days from the date of the proclamation of the final results of the composition of the Council." The same article expressly states that relations between the two chambers must be regulated by law. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Press e