Closer look at crises and setbacks in Tunis

Recently the Annual Summit of the World Social Forum (WSF) held in Tunisia in the presence of many political experts and scholars.

An enormous annual gathering, World Social Forum (WSF), that bills itself as a “process” rather than a conference, brought together by far the largest assembly of international social movement organizations, and this year dealt with the recent changes and events happened in Tunisia.

It is worthwhile noting that, the deputy of Taqrib News Agency (TNA), Seyyed Morteza Nemat Zadeh was one of the participants of this Summit, witnessed the resent political and social alternations in this Islamic-Arabian county.

The political expert, in an interview with TNA, gave an account of his observations.

In this conference many people from different stratums of the society and various organizations partook. But it would seem on the face of it that the meeting, as such, was actually given over to accomplishing this very aim which was followed by the left parties and that was showing their power to other parties with an eye to win the upcoming election.

Even a cursory look at history illustrates that people, who gain victory in revolutions, will face with some fluctuated conditions shortly thereafter, and unsurprisingly, therefore, the same story would be true about Tunisian people; all the same, holding such conference uncover the dynamic society of this country, but meanwhile the latent layers and stratums of the society show the continuation of crisis in Tunisia including insecurity, high inflation and the raise of jobless rate.

What crisis Tunisia faced with after the country underwent the revolution?

Freezing the executive organizations, after the recent revolution in this country, eschew the governors to accomplish the revolutionary goals, leading to the widespread dissatisfaction.

But beside the lack of economic prosperity and the standing very wide gulf between the present condition of Tunisia and the desired state of recovery, a sort of happiness is witnessed among people which in part derived from collapse of tyrant system that is followed by touching the political and religious freedom and people’s massive participation in Friday prayers along with their persistent protests.

Prior to the revolution, Tunisia with an area of over 160 square kilometers, with Mediterranean coastal locations which are blessed with the very beautiful sites brought high and considerable foreign income for its people, but thereafter, this financial source was downscaled severely.

The government put its attempt to procure this financial source again, but in failure, and as a result, this issue gave an alibi to the left, liberal and the ex-dominant parties to accelerate their attempt for ousting the government.

From the other line, Frankcon groups which carry, in effect, the remains of French culture in this country exploit the present condition, taking the policy of the government on the chine.

One of the other present crises in Tunisia derives in part from the seemed unlimited demand for increasing income. The measures done for uplifting payments imposed high burden and cost upon the government; especially regarding the line that no new financial sources made since the revolution. The benefit that tourism industry brings is also well below what the country had prior to the recent events.

Regarding the foresaid lines, the budget can just be allotted to the current expenses and people’s income per se which leaves no room for Construction activities. The aforementioned issue aggravated the present condition and spark more national dissatisfaction in the country which place the government at a million miles away from a steady condition.

It is worthwhile noting that Tunisian coasts are located 70 kilometers from the Sicily Island in Italy which, in turn, make the country as one of the main gate for illegal human immigration to Europe and such problem, along the foresaid ones, cast a shadow over the economic and social security in Europe. Given that, European countries expect the new government of Tunisia to provide a steady economic condition and stem the flow of illegal human immigration.

The other problem is the issue of pile of garbage in the Tunis streets and the disability of the municipally in pilling out them.
The other issue which should not be fallen on deaf ears refers to role of women in this country.

In the social realms, we observed the massive participation of women in different realms, which is a positive change of course, but exaggeration in this line causes some social and family problems and the emergence of some extreme feminist groups.

Which countries, after the Tunisian revolution, try to penetrate in this country?

A kind of competition stands between the U.S and France in penetration in Tunisia. The Strategic position of Tunisia in Mediterranean see inspires France, as an advance aged cloner to be after the resistance of penetration in Tunisia. Although the spread of this country’s culture and language among Tunisian people pave the way for France to reach this very aim. From the other side, the U.S also resort to this strategic position as an alibi in a bid to intervene in this country’s affairs. Alongside, Qatar and Saudi Arabia also had some influences in this country.

The other issue worth to noting here is the fact that at the present time, Salafi people pose a new social and religious threats and do not get along well with left and liberal parties, so based on the line, Tunisia is not safeguarded from the Salafi religious teachings and instructions.

Do you know the exact time the country set for holding the election?
Tunisia has set June (23, with a presidential runoff scheduled for July 7) as the date for presidential and legislative elections with the president being chosen directly by voters.

The Constituent Assembly which is the ruling coalition comprises of a majority of the 217 seats which 89 of them belonged to Islamic Ennahda Movement. The Constituent Assembly will approve the coalition agreement and press on its activities up to the election time.

Currently the government of Tunisia is run by the Secratory-General of Ennahda, Hamadi Jebali who was also the former prime minister of Tunisia (from December 2011 to March 2013) and consisted of other leaders in this movement.

Currently the government have tendency toward technocrats and the movmenet of Ennahda tried to ensure a balance between authorities and in the executive authorities, through such policy enhance the efficiency of Executive power and meanwhile decrease the amount of criticism.

Regarding the corrent condition in Tunisia, which party, Islamic or Liberal, you anticipate to hold the future power in the country?

I think the Islamic groups seem to act with more tact and visionary leadership. Given that, it would seems that they will hold a strong position in the future political body of the country.

Although, there stand some criticism over some of perspectives and positions in Islamic groups such as taking a somehow neutral position toward the issue of Palestine, but public opinion do not accept any relation with the regime of Zionism which the issue is considered generally as one of the principles of the Islamic parties.