Tunisia: A Hard Road Ahead Toward Democracy
Tunisia's Interior Minister Habib Essid (R) shakes hands with his French counterpart Claude Gueant (L) in Tunis on May 16, 2011. (Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images) Although the uprisings sweeping the Arab world have not yet subsided, Tunisiathe region's youngest democracyis now facing its first major challenge: Will the constitutional elections actually take place?
Doubt has been raised about the July 24 election date, following technical and logistical concerns raised by several political parties.
Also, the committee in charge of overseeing the elections is still missing 3 of its 16 members.
While Tunisias most established political parties feel that they will be ready on Election Day, many newly established parties have their doubts.
Some political parties believe that they will be ready for the upcoming July elections and want to push ahead, said Messaoud Romdhani, a trade union activist, in a phone interview. He is also involved in helping organize the elections.
Doubt has been raised about the July 24 election date, following technical and logistical concerns raised by several political parties.
Also, the committee in charge of overseeing the elections is still missing 3 of its 16 members.
While Tunisias most established political parties feel that they will be ready on Election Day, many newly established parties have their doubts.
Some political parties believe that they will be ready for the upcoming July elections and want to push ahead, said Messaoud Romdhani, a trade union activist, in a phone interview. He is also involved in helping organize the elections.
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Tunisias interim prime minister, Beji Caid Essebsi, added to the countrys uncertainty last week, by not ruling out a possible postponement of the elections.
Many Tunisians, riding high on their recently acquired freedom, fear that democracy will slip through their fingers if they are not careful enough.
The fragility of Tunisias fledgling democracy was seen last week when thousands of people took to the streets, after it w! as rumor ed that the party belonging to ousted President Ben Ali, would not acknowledge election results if the previously banned Islamist Ennahda Party won.
According to Romdhani, this event speaks volumes about the skepticism people feel amidst their enthusiasm. People want to take to the streets to rush things up.
Last Friday, a conference was held in Tunisia, teaching political parties about the laws that apply to them, and how to organize their financing in a transparent manner.
Additional reporting by Jasper Fakkert.
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- Tunisia's Interim President Confirms Election Date
Tunisias interim prime minister, Beji Caid Essebsi, added to the countrys uncertainty last week, by not ruling out a possible postponement of the elections.
Many Tunisians, riding high on their recently acquired freedom, fear that democracy will slip through their fingers if they are not careful enough.
The fragility of Tunisias fledgling democracy was seen last week when thousands of people took to the streets, after it w! as rumor ed that the party belonging to ousted President Ben Ali, would not acknowledge election results if the previously banned Islamist Ennahda Party won.
According to Romdhani, this event speaks volumes about the skepticism people feel amidst their enthusiasm. People want to take to the streets to rush things up.
Last Friday, a conference was held in Tunisia, teaching political parties about the laws that apply to them, and how to organize their financing in a transparent manner.
Additional reporting by Jasper Fakkert.
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