Tunisian President Tunisian President Mohammed Moncef Marzouki- elected by constituent assembly in December 2011, has signed landmark social contract as a major and historic initiative on governance.

Marzouki who succeeded ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has also promised presidential and parliamentary elections on June 23, 2013, with a new constitution allowing the president to be chosen directly by voters.
The signing of the social contract was witnessed by International Labour Organization (ILO) Director General Guy Ryder who described the document as crucial in ensuring social stability in Tunisia.

The signing also coincided with the two-year anniversary of the start of the Arab Spring, first in Tunisia and then in the region. The document focuses on decent work and democracy based on fundamental goals of social justice, freedom of association, social dialogue and decent work.

The agreement aims to improve industrial relations, employment policies, vocational training and education, social protection and balanced regional development. At the annual ILO conference in June 2012, Marzouki had stressed that democracy cannot survive without social justice,” adding that for Tunisia this means seizing a historic opportunity brought about by economic crisis and the revolution to achieve more just society.

The development comes at a time when the ruling Islamist Ennahdha also set presidential runoff for July 7. The announcement comes a time when the president extended the State of Emergency- put in January 2011 and grants police special powers of intervention, until February 1, 2013. Although the extensions raise fears of deteriorating security situation in the - the country shaken in recent weeks by series of attacks by salafists.

The authorities have vowed to crack down on violence in the wake of a salafist-led attack on US embassy in September in which four assailants were killed.Although the country’s general election was originally scheduled for 2014, it was brought forward by Tunisian revolution which ousted President Ben January 14, 2011. After the ouster, the election was postponed indefinitely after it was decided to hold Constituent Assembly Elections in October 23, 2011.

Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali told Brussels World Economic Forum that the interim government intends to hold presidential elections in 18 months. He also asserted that the elections will be organized and supervised by an independent public authority. He has termed the reactivation of High Independent Authority for the Election (ISIE) –is, “crucial for free and independent elections.

Opposition parties and Observers have previously expressed concern about failure of the Constituent Assembly to pass a deadline for the mandate of Jebali’s government. On December 12th, 44 members of Constituent Assembly abstained from voting in the election of President Marzouki, in protest of the unlimited mandate. “We refuse to vote for a president without a limited mandate.” said Samir Bettaib of Democratic Modernist Pole (PDM).

The Ennahdha movement won and heads a government consisting of two secular parties - Congress for the Republic and the Ettakatol. The ruling coalition has also accepted an amended parliamentary system after widespread criticism from the opposition that Ennahdha wants to control the government and avoid elections.