The recent unveiling of the new coalition government signals the beginning of a “new phase “in Tunisia‘s transition. Ali Laarayedh, the prime minister-designate and the outgoing interior minister announced the composition of his new Cabinet on Friday. The new government expected to accelerate the process of national reconciliation and rebuilding has attracted a lot of criticism. At first glance, the new government appears to be male- dominated with only three women included. Some of the ministers in the former government, who performed well below par, have reappeared in the new cabinet (Noureddine Bhiri and Sihem Badi). Time is running out for the government to fix the myriad of problems plaguing the country in particular in relation to when the Constituent Assembly is likely to finish drafting the new Constitution. This comes at a critical time when Tunisia plunged into renewed political deadlock following the assassination of opposition leader Chokri Belaid which ignited the biggest street protests since Ben Ali’s toppling.
National Constituent Assembly in Slow Motion
Ettakatol party’s secretary-general and president of Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly stated to France 24 TV that Tunisia’s constitution will be ready next month. Amira Yahyaoui, president of the watchdog organization Al Bawsala, deemed this date suggested by Ben Jaafar unrealistic. Given the slow pace of parliamentary deliberations, Yahyaoui expects that the elections cannot take place before the beginning of 2014. The report by Albawsala NGO whose members monitored the work of MPs accused legislative deputies of slackness. The chronic absence of parliamentarians from the chamber was one of the main facts highlighted in the findings of the NGO. Indeed, an average of just 90 out of 217 MPs attended sitting sessions since January 2013.
Newly Appointed Prime Minister Unveils the New Cabinet
The same parties that served in the last government led by Hamadi Jebali namely the Centre-left Ettakatol and the secular Congress for the Republic led by current President Moncef Marzouki remain in the new cabinet. Independents formed around 48 percent of the new cabinet while the three secular opposition parties who took part in the negotiations over the past two weeks did not join the new government. The most controversial appointment is Salem Labyad to the role of Education minister. The man wrote a widely shared “bootlicking” piece a few days before his appointment about the daunting challenges facing the new Prime minister Ali Laarayedh.
Following months of political deadlock, the new government will have to make some tough decisions to create national unity, to curb the tide of violence and to alleviate the economic malaise that swept the country. The economic slowdown has become increasingly visible as the cost of living keeps creeping up and the economy’s lifeblood that is the tourism sector is suffocating. Ironically, unemployment and poverty were the key factors that fueled the frustration of Tunisians and led eventually to the toppling of Ben Ali in early 2011.
Hundreds March in Tunis for Women’s Rights
In a country riddled with political problems, the occasion of International Women’s Day turned to yet another opportunity to protest against the government. Chants of ‘the people want the fall of the regime’ dominated a rally that was initially organized to support women’s rights in Tunisia. Back in the late 1950s, the newly independent Tunisia granted women some of the most progressive and far-reaching social rights in the Arab world and enshrined these in the personal status code effective from 1957. Tunisian women today enjoy more civil and political rights than women in neighboring Arab countries. But since the emergence of violent Islamist extremists, there is mounting concern that these important milestones may be gradually eroded.
Meriem,
I’m truly wondering why you keep on expressing your overall discontent on whatever this Government does, while we realize very well that it’s only a transitional Government, with a limited mission and limited means . There is no wand at this Govt’s disposal to turn water into wine or stone to gold . We all have to learn to look at things from the right perspective, in order to make an accurate judgement . Honestly, all these forgone conclusions get us actually nowhere.
What we have to do, is to just sit tight and wait for the opcoming elections, for Law and Order to be re-established and for unemployment to be addressed . Two key issues absolutely crucial in bringing the economy in motion .
Otherwise what would you concretely suggest to help find feasible alternatives and solutions to this crisis ?
@Kerim, the new interim prime minister would have sent the right message by appoining a woman in his cabinet. Politics in part is about “messages” and the message that Tunisia sent in 1956 reflected this by giving more rights to women. Bourguiba at the time emphasized the role of the woman in Tunisia. It was an oppportunity and the government at the time took it. It creates in my opinion a fairer and more progressive society. The author if this article is right when making the following point, and I quote “Back in the late 1950s, the newly independent Tunisia granted women some of the most progressive and far-reaching social rights in the Arab world and enshrined these in the personal status code effective from 1957. Tunisian women today enjoy more civil and political rights than women in neighboring Arab countries.”. Personaly I do not trust the current ruling party from the actions or rahte rlack of actions I have witnessed so far, I think they are biding their time and they will be happy to play the democratic political process and win seats by suggesting that Political Islam can work with Democracy. I fear that by gaining more power they will slowly strip women of their rights. Subsequently I support the right of women to protest and the issues raised in this article are timely and valid.
@ Benachour,
I’ve expected Meriem Dhaouadi to give an answer to my question, but since you spoke on her behalf , I assume that Meriem simply doesn’t have neither the answer, nor the commitment to react to her readers feedback .
Nonetheless I’ll try again to clarify the point I wanted to make . Meriem, in her article above, seems to worry about the absence of women in the new Government, perhaps to suggest that women rights in Tunisia are under threat, and that’s precisely what I referred to as a foregone conclusion in my early comment . Meriem’s assessment is purely hypothetical and doesn’t stand a chance of being put into practice, just because these fundamental rights are secured in the new Constitution like they were before : That is, ever since the First Republic of 1956 . The fact that no women, or only a few women take part in this Governement or the next one, doesn’t automatically mean that women are deliberately left out . There may be other reasons on the basis of this choice, at this point in time, perhaps for security reasons, or perhaps for not willing to expose them to the ongoing unrest, varying from physical & verbal violence to threats that no woman wishes to be part of it, for the timebeing . Qualified tunisian women are still in their positions, in all sectors . They weren’t sent home or were denied participation .
Bottomline is, some of us in this country refuse to perceive the whole picture . Instead, they focus on tiny details . That is why they jump as fast as they can to conclusions, leaving a void space behind and a scala of questions unanswered .
[…] (Vgl. http://www.tunisienumerique.com/tunisie-ali-laaryedh-sexcuse-aupres-des-femmes/169185 und http://nawaat.org/portail/2013/03/11/weekly-political-review-where-are-the-women-in-tunisias-new-cab… […]
Dear Kerim
I am not speaking on behalf of the Author of the article you refer to. I cannot comment on whether Meriem has an answer to your questions, that is between you both. But Meriem does, in my opinion, make a valid point as I am sure you would agree that the presence of Women in government and in the cabinet for that matter will allow them to push their ideas forward. To suggest otherwise is, if you pardon the expression, a little naive. I have no doubt that some Men will push for Women’s rights in many countries including Tunisia. But surely, issues that concern Women, their liberty and position in society can only be raised by women themselves.
Sometimes “tiny detail” is important as the whole picture makes up all “these details”.