SPEAKING
FREELY Policy and politics of democracy in
Tunisia By Ahmed E Souaiaia
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times
Online feature that allows guest writers to have
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Exactly two months
after Tunisia’s October 23 elections, a peaceful
transfer of power took place - a rarity in the
Arab world. The outgoing prime minister, Beji Caid
el Sebsi, handed the reins to Hamadi Jebali, one
of the founding leaders of al-Nahda movement and a
former political prisoner. The latter introduced
his cabinet to the constituency assembly, which
voted largely along political party lines to
approve it.
Forming a coalition government
was understandably a struggle for a group of
novices, many of whom had spent more time in prison
than in government. But in the
end, the parties put forth a respectable coalition
of 30 ministers and 11 secretaries of state. Three
political parties (Nahda, Mu'tamar, and Takattul)
and some independents are represented in this
coalition government. Several appointments in
particular stand out.
The most
controversial appointment concerns the foreign
ministry, which was entrusted to Rafiq Abdessalam,
a former politics and international relations
student at the Center for the Study of Democracy,
University of Westminster, London. The 43-year-old
academic has no practical experience that would
allow him to navigate the complex world of
diplomacy, except his personal connections to some
of the rulers of the Gulf States.
It is
believed that his appointment was meant to reward
the historical leader of al-Nahda, Rachid
Ghannouchi, his father-in-law. But this very fact
did not please many Tunisians who had suffered
from the actions of Ben Ali's in-laws. Appointing
the son-in-law of the leader of the winning party
to a powerful position despite his lack of
experience is a painful reminder of the
corruption, cronyism, and abuse of power under the
old regime. Nahda might suffer politically in next
year's elections because of this insensitive and
probably foolish move.
Nahda leaders may
have a saving grace in the new chief of the
interior ministry. For most Tunisians, the
interior ministry is a euphemism for police
brutality. Under Presidents Bourguiba and Ben Ali,
the ministry was used to eliminate political
opponents, torture political prisoners, intimidate
citizens, and spread fear - it was the tyrants'
favorite tool for subjugating the people.
One of the victims of this institution was
Ali Laaridh, who was imprisoned for 15 years - 13
years of them in solitary confinement - during Ben
Ali's rule. He was sentenced to death under
Bourguiba's regime. It is highly unlikely that a
victim of torture and abuse would subject others
to the same brutality. Consequently, Laaridh might
well be the right person to rehabilitate the
security forces and reform the institution.
Another reassuring face in the new
government is that of Noureddine Bhiri. The
53-year-old lawyer is a moderate who spent years
defending political prisoners. He too was
imprisoned for his political activities. Many
Tunisians, and other human rights activists, hope
that his struggles for civil and political rights
will serve him well as he leads the critically
important ministry of justice.
Governing a
country that has suffered years of mismanagement,
corruption and abuses of power is never easy.
Forming a coalition government was the right
choice. The three political parties seem to trust
one another, and they all stand to lose a great
deal if the coalition fails.
They have
months, not years, to deliver on three critical
issues: unemployment, political reform, and
economic growth. Even more importantly, they have
the responsibility of setting new standards for
the rest of the Arab world. The new standards must
reflect transparency, compassion and just use of
power that demonstrates respect for human dignity
and rights.
Professor Ahmed E
Souaiaia teaches at the University of Iowa
with joint appointments in International Studies,
Islamic Studies, and College of Law. He is the
author of the book Contesting Justice.
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online
feature that allows guest writers to have their
say.Please
click hereif you are interested in
contributing. Articles submitted for this section
allow our readers to express their opinions and do
not necessarily meet the same editorial standards
of Asia Times Online's regular contributors.
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