For weeks, thousands of people have been taking to the streets. Their main demands target both a Constituent Assembly that is taking too long to fulfill its task (whose work has already been suspended) and a Islamist-led Government controlled (in coalition with minority parties) by the so-called moderates of Ennahda (a sort of Muslim Brotherhood, although many differences between both groups abound). I already explained how a Tamarrud movement had previously emerged, an initiative that has as of lately gained momentum and was even at the root of the launching of a”week of departure”. In addition to that, and also suspiciously similar to Egypt’s path, a National Salvation Front has been created, gathering diverse actors from the extreme left to the center-right. Even though President of Ennahda Rached Ghannouchi was swift to initiate consultations with a key stakeholder in the country, the largest trade union federation, UGTT (General Union of Tunisian Workers), opposition parties have so far rejected the establishment of a transitional government. They do not believe this kind of vehicle should be headed by the Islamists, who have shown increasingly divisive and, above all, have not fulfilled almost any of their initial promises, notably the one regarding the drafting of the Constitution in less than one year. A very delicate economic situation is also at stake, as it cannot be forgotten that the 2011 Revolution was kindled by a poor merchant who set himself on fire out of misery and desperation. And presentable growth digits are still to be found.
Could the establishment of a national unity, or “salvation government” of technocrats that would govern by decree the opposition (paradoxically spearhedade by former head of government and secretary-general of Ennahda Hamadi Jebali) has suggested be a solution to insecurity, economic instability, social cleavages and legislative stalemate? It certainly might be an option, but the national interest this body will have to respect above everything should be carefully defined by all stakeholders with no exception. First, both the current government, the opposition, the entrepeneurs, the remnants of the old regime… will have to accept their responsibility in what has been done up until now. The Tunisian people should be transparently informed of all this: no more deals behind their backs. And each and every citizen should reject propaganda and try to assess what they are told with common sense and a critical approach. If their political representatives really work to defend the situation, their well-being should remain the only way to unity and national reconciliation. In this sense, Tunisia has at least two things in its favour: on the one hand, the lesser role the army and the security apparatus have played during the last decades and, on the other hand, the willingness to reach a true peaceful solution most of the leaders are showing (or at least pretend to).
Few days after Egypt’s “bloody Wednesday” and with the words “civil war” hinging on everyone’s minds, Tunisian leaders felt an intense pressure to alleviate the tension, both exerted from inside and from outside the country. A meeting was held in Paris between Ghannouchi and former Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi. An agreement seems to have been reached, whereby the President will be replaced by the latter and a technocratic government will be formed. One shocking new feature of this government is that two posts of deputy prime minister will be created and given to opposition representatives: one for security affairs and one for economic affairs. This should guarantee checks and balances and maybe a fairer and more transparent electoral campaign. They say you should keep your friend close and your ennemies closer, don’t they?
Allegations of a deal between the country’s two top political leaders:
Not much reliable information about the meeting in Paris between former Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi and Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi has been leaked. However, it is known that the two have reached an agreement in principle, which foreign partners \u2014 namely the Europeans, the Americans and the Germans \u2014 have imposed. The two enemy brothers need to agree in order to achieve a democratic transition in Tunisia and to avoid an Egyptian-style bloody scenario, even if that would anger the popular bases of the two camps.
The deal includes keeping Ali Laarayedh at the head of the government and Mustapha Ben Jaafar at the head of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), while replacing Moncef Marzouki with Essebsi as president of the republic. As for the government, it will consist of technocrats and politicians with the addition of two new posts of deputy prime minister; one for security affairs and the other for economic affairs. These two posts will be \u201Coffered\u201D to the democratic opposition.
If true, it’s exactly the kind of elite back-room dealing that appears to be the key to fragile political transitions.
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The deal includes keeping Ali Laarayedh at the head of the government and Mustapha Ben Jaafar at the head of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), while replacing Moncef Marzouki with Essebsi as president of the republic. As for the government, it will consist of technocrats and politicians with the addition of two new posts of deputy prime minister; one for security affairs and the other for economic affairs. These two posts will be \u201Coffered\u201D to the democratic opposition.
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