National Order of Merit (Tunisia)

National Order of Merit
*الوسام الوطني للاستحقاق*
*Ordre national du Mérite*
National Order of Merit; الوسام الوطني للاستحقاق; Ordre national du Mérite ;
Awarded by the President of Tunisia
Type	Order of merit
Awarded for	distinguished and meritorious services to the state
Status	Currently constituted
President of Tunisia	Kais Saied
Grades	Grand Cordon; First Class; Second Class; Third Class; Fourth Class
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Republic
Next (lower)	Order of Cultural Merit
	; Ribbon bar of the order; ;

The National Order of Merit (Arabic: الوسام الوطني للاستحقاق, French: Ordre national du Mérite) is a state award of the Republic of Tunisia.

History edit

The National Order of Merit was established by Decree No. 98-997 of 2 May 1998 with the aim of systematizing numerous awards of merit in various fields of activity as a single Order of Merit. The statute of the award was amended in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Classes edit

The Order has five classes:

Grand Cordon - wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
Class 1 (equivalent to rank of "Grand Officer") - wears the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest;
Class 2 (equivalent to rank of "Commander") - wears the badge on a necklet;
Class 3 (equivalent to rank of "Officer") - wears the badge of the order on a ribbon with a rosette on the left chest;
Class 4 (equivalent to rank of "Knight") - wears the badge of the order on a ribbon on the left chest.

Description edit

The badge of the Order is a seven-pointed star of dark blue enamel with a golden rim and with gold strals between the rays in the form of seven dihedral pointed rays of different sizes, arranged pyramidally. At the base of the rays are shortened five dihedral pointed rays of different sizes, arranged pyramidally. In the center of the star is a gold medallion with a wide border, on which a laurel wreath is located in relief. In the center of the medallion there is a relief state emblem, on top of the inscription in Arabic "Republic of Tunisia", and on the bottom: "National Order of Merit". The badge is attached to the order ribbon with the help of a ring.

The star of the order is similar to the badge, but larger.

The ribbon of the order is silk, moire, dark blue with wide gold stripes near the edge.