Years of drought till democracy blooms

Compared to other countries that have been affected by the Arab Spring, Tunisia’s performance in the post-ben Ali era and the beginning of the democratic experience has been the most promising, commented Rajeh Khouri, a columnist with the Lebanese daily Annahar.

But Tunisia’s future, as seen through the lens of current state of affairs, doesn’t seem to respond to the rosy dreams of the revolution. Only a few days ago, the country’s newly elected president, Moncef Marzouki had to rebuke the rebels who imposed the change but failed to find the discipline needed to begin forging their future and said: “The perpetuation of sit-ins is equivalent to mass suicide. We will be forced in the end to eat rocks.”

His strong warning reflects growing fears of seeing more investors leave Tunisia and more factories and institutions closing or going out of business due to whimsical protests and increasing chaotic strikes. Tunisia’s growth rate fell to zero, while investments dropped by 30 per cent and tourism ground to a halt. Thousands of employees have been discharged as 114 institutions were forced to close down as a result of 326 strikes and sitins that produced one million unemployed citizens.

“Marzouki’s call is a warning to all the capitals of the Arab Spring where a long period of disappointment will take hold before the first blooms of democracy can be seen,” said the writer.