Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali pledged on Friday to guarantee a transparent presidential and legislative elections next year and consolidate democracy.

"We are firmly determined to further promote political life in our country, by further anchoring democracy and pluralism, expanding the scope of participation, and fostering the role of civil society," Ben Ali said while addressing the nation on the 21th anniversary of his taking power.

"We will provide all the necessary conditions to make sure these elections are held within a context of transparency, respect for the law, high civic behavior and that they truly reflect the people's will," he added.

Ben Ali also announced the decision to review the media records of presidential and legislative candidates in their campaign to prevent lawbreaking, granting the chief of the Higher Communication Council or his representative the authority of assessing them.

Ben Ali, 71, came to power on Nov. 7, 1987 after the doctors declared the then president Habib Bourguiba unable to continue his duties. He decided to run for the presidential elections scheduled in 2009, seeking for the fifth term.

He has vowed on other occasions to focus on employment, infrastructure, the financial and banking sector, energizing the competitiveness of national economy and developing exportation.

Tunisia is one of the most competitive African economies due to its reforms and flexible laws. It wants to secure an annual growth of 6 percent in the next decade in order to cut unemployment rate which is 14 percent now, according to official figures.