1959 Tunisian general election

General elections were held in Tunisia on 8 November 1959 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies, following the promulgation of a new constitution on 1 June. They were also the first elections held since the proclamation of a republic in 1957.

In the presidential election, incumbent Habib Bourguiba, who had become president upon the republic's proclamation, was the only candidate to obtain the endorsement of 30 political figures, as required by the constitution.[1] He was thus unopposed for a full five-year term. In the parliamentary elections, Bourguiba's Neo Destour won all 90 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, with only the Tunisian Communist Party running against them in Tunis and Gafsa.[2] Voter turnout was 91.7%.[3]

This would be the last even nominally contested election held in Tunisia until 1981. In 1963, a year before the Chamber's term ran out, the Neo Destour was declared the only legally permitted party, though Tunisia had effectively been a one-party state since independence.

Results

President

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Habib Bourguiba	Neo Destour		100
Total			100

Chamber of Deputies

Party	Votes	%	Seats
Neo Destour	1,002,298	99.7	90
Tunisian Communist Party	3,471	0.3	0
Invalid/blank votes	2,190	−	−
Total	1,007,959	100	90
Registered voters/turnout	1,099,577	91.7	−
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

1. Dickovick, J. Tyler (2008). The World Today Series: Africa 2012. Lanham, Maryland: Stryker-Post Publications. ISBN 978-161048-881-5.
2. The Middle East and North Africa 2003 p1053
3. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p918 ISBN 0-19-829645-2