Ben Ali critics, supporters mobilise as Tunisia election looms
2009-10-22
As Tunisia's October 25th election approaches, President Ben Ali's near-certain re-election has ordinary people and party loyalists locked in debate.
By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 22/10/09
 [Mona Yahia] President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's bid for a fifth term has opened up sharp debate in Tunisian society. |
Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's campaign for a fifth term has sparked strong reactions from both supporters and opponents, with many calling his re-election a foregone conclusion.
Advocates of a fifth term hail what they call Tunisia's substantial leap in terms of social and infrastructure development, as well as economic growth. They claim that Ben Ali's programmes have turned the country into a pioneering example in the Arab and African spheres.
The president's foes, meanwhile, point to what they call his grave mistakes, and list the ways in which he has allegedly failed Tunisians who were hoping for improvements. As evidence they cite soaring unemployment rates among university graduates and alleged erosion of civil liberties, all in the context of supposed attempts by the president's Democratic Constitutional Rally party to dominate politics and civil society.
"The absence of public freedoms, the monopoly by the existing authority of the public media outlets, the dependence of the judiciary on the government, and the presidential institution's domination of state institutions, have all led to a complete standstill in the political field," the former secretary general of the Progressive Democratic Party, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, told Magharebia from Paris.
Other Tunisians seem resigned to Ben Ali's continued political dominance, asserting that the president's strength lies in the weakness of his opponents. With no strong opposition party to formulate policies benefitting the average Tunisian, many analysts expect Ben Ali to sweep the election.
Arrayed against Ben Ali in the presidential race are Mohamed Bouchiha (Party of People's Unity), Ahmed Innoubli (Unionist Democratic Union) and Ahmed Ibrahim (Ettajdid Movement).
Despite the criticism he faces, Ben Ali has many vocal supporters. Mondher Thabet, the head of the Social Liberal Party, has openly declared his endorsement of the incumbent.
"President Ben Ali has proven that he is really a president for all Tunisians, and that he's the guarantor of the progress of the reform project, and the only supporter of plurality," said Thabet. "Therefore, the Social Liberal Party's assessment is that the transitional period is still ongoing, and that Tunisia needs President Ben Ali to be the head of state."
Even Mohamed Moaada, a former secretary general of the opposition Movement of Socialist Democrats and at times an ardent critic of Ben Ali, is dismayed by the current state of the Tunisian opposition.
"We confirm our position that calls for making President Ben Ali the candidate of national accord," he said. "The circumstances dictate it, and so do the interests of Tunisia."
Ben Ali has presented a 24-point platform that includes raising Tunisian living standards and addressing the issue of employment. He has also promised to encourage democratic reform.
To boost his candidacy, the incumbent can point to several reports that applaud Tunisia for good governance and a strong economic performance.
Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government recently ranked Tunisia first in North Africa for good governance, granting it 100 out of 100 points for security, 89 points for human development and 70.5 points for transparency and rule of law.
In addition, Tunisia has the most competitive economy in Africa, according to the World Economic Forum in Davos, which ranked Tunisia 40th in the world.
In terms of enthusiasm, Ben Ali's party loyalists are well-prepared for the election.
"I think that President Ben Ali [gives] real support to [ordinary Tunisians] … We have seen this on more than one occasion, because he didn't look down on Tunisians and didn't hesitate to help whoever needed it," said Democratic Constitutional Rally member Meriem Mliti.
Chouaki Jelassi, another member of the ruling party, said Ben Ali "is the only one who can push Tunisia forward and realise the dream of its people to reach the ranks of developed and modern countries. I'm proud to vote for Ben Ali."
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Anonymous Posted 2009-10-22
Your correspondent speaks of Ben Ali’s “detractors” when referring to his opponents. But, this is not surprising when you live in Tunisia and night and day you're exposed to the vocabulary of official propaganda. This gives his article a local colour and increases his credibility. Regarding the reproaches most often made by Tunisians, nothing is mentioned about torture, corruption, nepotism (particularly with regard to the president’s family) and class-based justice. As for the good points, we can compare them to the Kennedy School at Harvard’s Ibrahim Index of Governance in Africa, the fruit of research done by Harvard University’s biggest names. They say that North Africa’s performance in terms of human rights is inferior to that of Sub-Saharan Africa. For example, the word “security” has different meanings depending on the point of view of a citizen who feels protected by the law and has no fear of anything arbitrary, and the point of view of a citizen in a dictatorial state, which has the go-ahead to silence the people. Tunisian propaganda is very clever in how it selects news. It does not say, for example, that it is possible to have elections in Zimbabwe, the Congo and the poorest countries of Africa, while in Tunisia we can only have mock elections and masquerades. One of Ben Ali’s biggest successes has been silence: the widespread apathy and despair for that which concerns politics. Another would be fear on the part of those who go vote. Just listen to their conversations. All of them are convinced that there are hidden cameras placed in the polling booths to spy on them. They believe in the transparency both of the voting booths and Ben Ali’s elections.
Anonymous Posted 29 days ago
There is no room for comparison between the Rally party and other Tunisian parties or between president Ben Ali candidate to the presidency elections 2009 and other candidates. The Tunisian citizen and smart and rational. His smartness makes him always choose the best, strongest and most powerful. With the simplest calculations he makes, he finds himself incapable of thinking of someone else other than Ben Ali as president and no other party than the rally as his party, especially because matching realism with honesty in feelings, professionalism and methodology in formulating political programmes during the rule of Ben Ali made the people trust more his choices and ability to overcome difficulties, world changes and economic fluctuations. This has earned international appraisal of great achievements of the era of change, making people live in a state of stability and security that have increased its aspirations to a better future, progress, freedom and prosperity. These are the promises of the platform of Ben Ali during the next period. The predictions for the victory of Ben Ali and his party with a sweeping majority are not based on the fact that the ruling party is the party of crowds and liberation militancy against the colonizer only, but it lies in the high preparedness for every small and big issue, hard work to continue the ruling process with all energy, preparedness, superiority and permanent preparedness to face changes with required reform and flexibility which prevent setbacks. The Tunisian doesn't trust other parties because he finds them worn-out, fragile and weak because of the nature of their conceptions of governance, the state and humans. They are incapable of assuming their choices and overcoming their internal problems. In the best cases, they are unable of giving an example of their belief in difference, freedom of the opinion in the relationship between its officials, incapable of adjusting their requirements and approaches to their volume, weight, popularity and influence. This is what Mr Mohamed Moaada, coordinator of the movement of democrats recently, the most militating opposition members. He was keen to explain and elaborate this in Al Molahid journal in a weekly article and in some daily papers. Unrealistic and irrational thinking of these parties make their efforts fruitless and don't fall in the window of developing the country and people. Tunisia has achieved a lot and still needs so much. Therefore, efforts and energy have to be joined to face all coming challenges with endeavour, determination and supporting Ben Ali.
muslimah Posted 29 days ago
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN TUNISIA PLEASE DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS TYRANT. HE HAS DONE NOTHING FOR THIS COUNTRY BUT ONLY SORROW AND GRIEF. WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST HIM. HE IS THE ENEMY OF OUR DEEN. HE WANTS TO MISGUIDE YOU ALL. YOU CAN NOT SAY AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT BUR ONLY BE PUT AWAY IN JAIL OR DISSAPEAR. IS THIS WHAT LEADER YOU WANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN. OPEN YOUR EYES EVERYONE TURN BACK TO YOUR CREATOR AND ASK FOR GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH TO BEAT THIS MONSTER AND THE PPL THAT WORK WITH HIM. ISLAM WILL NEVER FAIL YOU. BUT HE WILL. "ISLAM STARTED STRANGE AND WILL END STRANGE SO GIVE GLAD TIDINGS TO THOSE WHO ARE STRANGE"!!!!!!
ismail Posted 28 days ago
May God preserve for us our president, Ben Ali.
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