Crackdown in Tunisia: the death of a young democracy?
President Kais Saied’s seizing of power suggests he plans to ‘eliminate any oversight and all obstacles to his rule’
They may have been cheered on by millions – but there’s no doubt that the events that unfolded in Tunisia on 25 July amounted to a “coup d’état”, said Nizar Bahloul in Business News (Tunis).
After widespread anti-government protests over Tunisia’s chaotic pandemic response and its shrinking economy, President Kais Saied invoked emergency powers under Article 80 of the constitution: the prime minister, Hichem Mechichi, was sacked; parliament was suspended and ringed by military vehicles.
Saied, who was elected two years ago on an anti-establishment platform, then furthered the appearance of a coup by firing two ministers and lengthening an existing curfew. Public gatherings of more than three people were banned, and security forces raided the offices of Qatar-funded TV channel Al Jazeera. The upshot? “We are facing the real and immediate death of our young democracy.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Tunisia was once “the cradle of the Arab Spring”, said Tallha Abdulrazaq on TRT World (Istanbul). When protesters toppled the country’s dictatorship in 2011, it set off an “unstoppable wave” of fury against “corrupt, violent and oppressive rulers” in nations throughout the Arab world. Yet ten years on, Tunisia was the only one of those countries where genuine democracy had survived.
Unfortunately, instead of the freedom and prosperity they were promised, Tunisians have endured years of “economic crisis” and “political paralysis”, said Nathalie Tocci in La Stampa (Turin). To make matters worse, the health service has buckled under the impact of Covid: 20,000 people have died, out of a population of 12 million, and to date a mere 8% have been fully vaccinated.
Thousands of Tunisians poured into the streets to cheer Saied’s suspension of parliament, where the moderate Islamists of the Ennahda party hold the most seats, said Al-Bayan (Dubai). Car horns honked, fireworks exploded and crowds chanted jubilantly.
But I doubt the celebratory mood will last long, said Marwan Bishara on Al Jazeera (Doha). Saied’s cynical use of the constitution to seize power, and his praise for Egypt’s dictatorship, suggests he plans to “eliminate any oversight and all obstacles to his rule” in the coming months.
The autocratic leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have more to celebrate, said Claire Parker in The Washington Post. They never wanted the Arab Spring – or the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Ennahda – to succeed. State media there have triumphantly hailed the events in Tunisia as “the death knell for political Islam in democracy”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's war is America's, too
Opinion 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel' are just different slogans for the same hatred
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Less than total recall
Editor's Letter Why our brains want to forget the darkest days of the pandemic
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Black and Hispanic voters: why they’re turning right
Talking Point Polling indicates that the groups may no longer be Democratic Party strongholds
By The Week UK Published
-
The Garrick: unfit for the modern world?
Talking Point Founded in 1831, the club is composed solely of men
By The Week UK Published
-
Rachel Reeves: does she have a plan?
Talking Point Pundits have critiqued her statements as alternately too conservative and too extreme
By The Week UK Published
-
Putin's sham election
Opinion Protest votes show Russian dissent still simmers
By Susan Caskie Published
-
Vaughan Gething: a new leader for Wales
Talking point Former minister for the economy tasked with revitalising struggling country after being elected First Minister
By The Week UK Published
-
Olaf Scholz vs. Emmanuel Macron: an ancient animosity
Under the radar The German chancellor and French president's relationship has been productive, but Ukraine war has put it under strain
By The Week UK Published