Tunisia respects the limited sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council on Libya. Tunisia's history, political stability, and geographic proximity have led to the development of an economy closely linked to Europe. Ongoing multi- and bilateral assistance programs from European Union members, and the 1995 signing of a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, reinforce Tunisia's European commercial orientation. Under the constitution, the president may be elected for a maximum of three terms. Cabinet members are named by the president and report to him.
Tunisian law prohibits parties based on religion, race, language or region.
The 163 members of the unicameral parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, are elected for five year terms. To ensure representation of minority parties, nineteen additional seats were distributed proportionally on a national basis among opposition party candidates scoring highest in the district balloting. In March 1994, the voters gave President Ben Ali his second five-year electoral mandate. The next presidential and legislative elections are slated for 1999. Municipal elections took place in May 1995.