A ceremony was held on Friday, in honour of members of the Independent Higher Authority for the Elections (IHAE) and Independent Regional Authority for the Election (IRAE), "in consideration for their role in making a success of the first free and democratic elections in Tunisia."The ceremony was attended by the Authorities members, observers, journalists and guests. IHAE Chairman Kamel Jendoubi hailed the role of members of IRAE and local units who "managed with great skill" the October 23 elections and the operations related to it, helping succeed this "rendez-vous with history" and "achieve one of the objectives of the Tunisian Revolution." "Despite the multiple difficulties faced during the electoral process and the luck of experience in the organisation of elections, IHAE and IRAE members had managed to gain the confidence of Tunisians," Mr. Jendoubi pointed out. IRAE members, he added, could constitute the first nucleus of the election management that will be tasked in the future with preparing for and organising elections. For Mr. Boubaker Bethabet, IHAE Secretary-General, "neutrality and collective work helped gain the confidence of the majority of Tunisians," in the elections' results. Mr. Bethabet pointed out the role of the Tunisian people, the civil society and all the State's institutions through their assistance and neutrality, in making of this electoral rendez-vous a success. Attendees particularly applauded the role of the National Army and Security Forces in securing and supporting the electoral operation.