Last hope for Tunisia

Outlet: Arab News

Language: English

Abstract: Tunisians are currently facing a crucial decision: whether to endorse a new constitution that consolidates power in a presidency reminiscent of the Ben Ali era or to revive the spirit of the Arab Spring and resist President Kais Saied's authoritarian ambitions. Anticipated approval of the referendum makes street demonstrations unlikely, particularly given prevailing political disillusionment and economic hardship. Saied's proposed constitutional changes, echoing an inverted power structure similar to Qaddafi's Libya, threaten to dismantle Tunisia's hard-won democratic gains. Despite resistance, including from the judiciary and labor unions, the outcome of the referendum seems increasingly inevitable. Tunisia's democratic experiment is experiencing a decline in confidence and an increase in fear of a return to dictatorship, all while receiving limited interest from international actors. Nevertheless, hope remains in the tenacity of opposition forces, indicating that Tunisia's democratic struggle is far from over despite various obstacles.

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