Eight years after it launched the Arab spring, Tunisia’s case in the minds of most Westerners
broadly, is portrayed as a model of a successful democratic transition, ensuring guaranteeing
freedom, free opinion and rights for all citizens of different affiliations. But Tunisia remains - by
contrast above. However- The reality ,is dawning upon all.
On Sunday, 13 October, Tunisians has voted for a new president, Kais Saïed, who was elected with
a landslide majority of 72.5% of the vote, at the expense of his rival nabil karoui, who is accused of
tax fraud, money laundering and ties to terrorist organizations; although Kais Saïed has no party, an
ambiguous political program, and little faith in the country’s political system.
Throughout his campaign, he has been outspoken on the Palestine issue, where Mr Saïed has made
solidarity with Palestine a key theme. In the run up for the elections, during a presidential debate
live on TV, when asked about his position on normalizing relations with Israel, Mr Saïed argued
‘Normalization is wrong. It should rather be called “great treason”. Whoever deals with an entity
that has displaced an entire people for over a century should be dealt with as a traitor and be placed
on trial for treason; there should be no “dealings with Zionists.”
His supporters argue that Mr Saïed will usher in a second revolution in the country and are
enlivened by his statement that ‘power must belong to the people directly’. His detractors argue that
his is a dangerous project which will isolate Tunisia internationally. Positioning himself in
opposition to the post-2011 political elite and the previous regimes of Bourguiba and Ben Ali, Mr
Saïed decries the intentions and ongoing influence of ex-colonial powers in the region. In early
September, Mr Saïed issued a stern warning to the European Union to ‘take its hands off the
country’s riches’.
Despite, Mr Saïed position foreign policy is a clear , a number of important indicators exist on how
he is likely to position Tunisia in relation to regional and international affairs. In the fact that Mr
Saïd’s closest personal confidante, Ridha Mekki, often referred to as ‘Lenin’, has long voiced
disquiet about an ongoing ‘colonial’ relationship that has existed between the Arab world and the
West.
broadly, is portrayed as a model of a successful democratic transition, ensuring guaranteeing
freedom, free opinion and rights for all citizens of different affiliations. But Tunisia remains - by
contrast above. However- The reality ,is dawning upon all.
On Sunday, 13 October, Tunisians has voted for a new president, Kais Saïed, who was elected with
a landslide majority of 72.5% of the vote, at the expense of his rival nabil karoui, who is accused of
tax fraud, money laundering and ties to terrorist organizations; although Kais Saïed has no party, an
ambiguous political program, and little faith in the country’s political system.
Throughout his campaign, he has been outspoken on the Palestine issue, where Mr Saïed has made
solidarity with Palestine a key theme. In the run up for the elections, during a presidential debate
live on TV, when asked about his position on normalizing relations with Israel, Mr Saïed argued
‘Normalization is wrong. It should rather be called “great treason”. Whoever deals with an entity
that has displaced an entire people for over a century should be dealt with as a traitor and be placed
on trial for treason; there should be no “dealings with Zionists.”
His supporters argue that Mr Saïed will usher in a second revolution in the country and are
enlivened by his statement that ‘power must belong to the people directly’. His detractors argue that
his is a dangerous project which will isolate Tunisia internationally. Positioning himself in
opposition to the post-2011 political elite and the previous regimes of Bourguiba and Ben Ali, Mr
Saïed decries the intentions and ongoing influence of ex-colonial powers in the region. In early
September, Mr Saïed issued a stern warning to the European Union to ‘take its hands off the
country’s riches’.
Despite, Mr Saïed position foreign policy is a clear , a number of important indicators exist on how
he is likely to position Tunisia in relation to regional and international affairs. In the fact that Mr
Saïd’s closest personal confidante, Ridha Mekki, often referred to as ‘Lenin’, has long voiced
disquiet about an ongoing ‘colonial’ relationship that has existed between the Arab world and the
West.
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