The National Order of Lawyers of Tunisia expressed, this Friday, May 9, its categorical refusal of the project to revise the law supervising the profession of notary, currently examined by the Committee on General Legislation of the Assembly. In line of sight: the expansion of the notary’s skills, in particular the possibility of recording divorces by mutual consent, hitherto reserved for justice.
In a letter addressed to the parliamentary authorities, the order denounces a text “contrary to the national interest”, believing that it compromises the foundations of the Tunisian Republic and the achievements of citizenship. The professional organization alerts the social and economic repercussions of such a project, which it considers a threat to the balance of the legal sector.
Faced with what it describes as “legislative drift”, the representative body of lawyers announces its determination to resort to all means of struggle, including demonstrations. She underlines that the profession today brings together more than 9,000 lawyers, including a majority of young people, in search of opportunities and a stable professional future.
The order also warns against a deregulation likely to encroach on the exclusive skills of lawyers, in particular the drafting of contracts. He sees in this reform a questioning of constitutional rights, a risk for social peace, and an infringement of the role of the judiciary in the preservation of the rights of women and the family.
In conclusion, the order of lawyers calls on parliamentarians to return to this project, to preserve justice, the balance of legal professions and social cohesion in Tunisia.