The Tunisian Constitutional Party (The Destour Party) : Claiming a Tunisian Constitution (March 1920)

Among the principal claims of this Party, established in March-June 1920, under the leadership of Abdelaziz Thaâlbi :

  • Promulgating a constitution asserting the right of the people to manage their own affairs, under the aegis of the Husseinite State.
  • Entrusting the legislative power to a Supreme Council composed of elected Tunisians and French.
  • Establishing a government responsible before the legislative authority.
  • Separating between the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
  • Establishing elected councils, having the power of deliberation and decision at the level of administrative regions, villages and commercial and agricultural chambers.
  • Establishing an independent judicial authority.
  • Recognizing freedom of the press and of association.

The “Rue du Djebel” Congress of the Destour Party (May 12-13, 1933)

The L’Action Tunisienne group (Habib Bourguiba, Mahmoud Matri, Tahar Sfar and Bahri Guiga) joined the Party and called for :

  • Promulgating a constitution consolidating the people’s sovereignty.
  • Establishing a Tunisian Parliament, elected through universal suffrage.
  • Establishing a Government responsible before the Parliament.
  • The independence of the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
  • Guaranteeing public freedoms for all Tunisians without distinction.

The new Tunisian Constitutional Liberal Party (Neo-Destour Party) : Struggling for sovereignty and independence (1934-1956)

The “Ksar Helal” Congress (March 2, 1934)

Reaffirmation of the claims included in the program of "L’Action Tunisienne" group in the “Rue du Djebel” Congress (May 12-13, 1933), namely :
  • An elected Tunisian Parliament
  • A Government responsible before the Parliament
  • Separation of powers
  • Respect of public freedoms.
  • * The first battle against colonization, led by the Party (September 3, 1934 – April 25, 1936).

* The second battle against colonization : Events of April 8-9, 1938.

* Large demonstrations were organized to claim people’s sovereignty,
a Tunisian Parliament and a national Government.

The “Dar Slim” Congress (October 17, 1948)

Among the claims made during this Congress :

  • No to a puppet government that does not draw its power from the people.
  • No to a puppet assembly elected in an illegal way.
  • Allowing people to enjoy their freedoms and to materialize their common aspirations.

* The “Night of Destiny” Congress (August 23, 1946), with the participation of all the components of the national movement, in the forefront of which the Neo-Destour Party: Claiming total independence.

* Intensification of the battle, in the early 50s, between nationalists and the colonial authority. The Party prepared for the decisive anti-colonial battle (June 1950 - January 1952).

Highlights of the reform project submitted by Leader Habib Bourguiba to the French Government on April 12, 1950 :

  • Establishing the Tunisian Executive branch, entrusted with the preservation of the Tunisian sovereignty.
  • Establishing a purely Tunisian Government, responsible for public security, and headed by a prime minister who effectively chairs the Cabinet.
  • Abolishing the position of Secretary-General of the Government.
  • Abolishing the French Gendarmerie.
  • Establishing elected municipal councils, within which the French interests would be represented, in regions where there were French minorities.
  • Establishing a national assembly elected through universal suffrage, whose prime mission was to prepare a democratic constitution organizing relations between Tunisia and France on the basis of the recognition of the Tunisian sovereignty and the mutual interests of France.

Third battle against colonization (January 18, 1952 – July 31, 1954) :

  • Leader Habib Bourguiba calls for armed struggle (Bizerte, January 13, 1952).
  • The Party held its Congress on January 18, 1952, and the Party’s leaders were arrested.
  • Battles and resistance.

The Sfax Congress (November 15 , 1955)

  • Adoption of the political line of Leader Habib Bourguiba as regards independence and sovereignty.

Among the claims of the Congress :

  • Organizing general democratic elections.
  • Electing a constituent assembly in charge of organizing the system of government on the basis of constitutional monarchy.
  • The people is the source of national sovereignty. A Parliament, elected through direct universal suffrage, exercises this sovereignty on behalf of the people.

December 29, 1955 : Upon an insistent request by Leader Habib Bourguiba, Lamine Bey signed an order providing for the establishment of the National Constituent Assembly, recommended by the Congress of Sfax. This Assembly would be elected directly by the people, and would be in charge of preparing a constitution for the kingdom.