New Karoui controversy overshadows Tunisia vote
Jailed candidate suffers another blow with release of ‘lobbying contract’
As Tunisia prepares for legislative elections on Sunday, the drama of the presidential race continues to overshadow what is arguably a more relevant vote for many Tunisians.
The publication of a million-dollar lobbying contract purportedly between a jailed presidential candidate Nabil Karoui and the Montreal lobbying firm Dickens and Madson has drawn the attention of many Tunisian voters before Sunday’s contest.
Released on Wednesday evening by the news website Al
Monitor, the effect of the document on the reputation of Mr Karoui and his party, Qalb Tounes (Heart of Tunisia), is not yet known. But with a second-round presidential vote scheduled for October 13, its publication comes at a critical time for both electoral races, already subject to controversy as a result of Mr Karoui’s imprisonment on tax evasion and money laundering charges.
Under the terms of the document published by Al
Monitor, Dickens and Madson are instructed to arrange meetings with various international bodies.
The document’s signatories have not been verified and a spokesman for Qalb Tounes suggested that, although they had no definite proof, the document appeared to be manufactured by Mr Karoui’s opponents.
The identity of the person claiming to be acting on behalf of Mr Karoui, Mohamed Bouderbala – whose signature appears on the US Foreign Agents Registration Act paperwork – has also been called into question.
“We have no clue about the person who signed the document,” the Qalb Tounes spokesman said.
Political analyst Youssef Cherif told The National:
“Qalb Tounes isn’t affected by Karoui’s imprisonment.
“It’s leading, and the campaign is ongoing, with a lot of means at the disposal of the campaigning team.
“But the lobbying contract may contribute to weakening Karoui as a presidential candidate.
“This is too big to be covered up – it’s breaching several Tunisian laws and norms, and it shows how advantaged Karoui is in comparison with his rival Kais Saied.”
Despite the drama of the presidential race, it is the legislative vote that holds most relevance for the country.
While the powers of the presidency are largely limited to defence and foreign policy, the remit of Tunisia’s parliament is more wide ranging.
The parliament nominates the chief of government – the prime minister. It is a position that, after a confirmation vote, enjoys a wide range of powers including a virtual monopoly over domestic policy.
Despite his considerable resources, Mr Karoui appears to have succeeded in positioning himself and his party as the insurgent underdogs against established party rivals and the moderate Islamists of Ennahda. It is a fight that, although it includes more than 10,000 candidates of various party affiliations, is likely to boil down to a contest between the two factions.
“Ennahda, because it’s been in government for almost a decade now, is seen as the main [party] responsible for the bad economic situation,” Mr Cherif said.
Tunisia’s economy is faltering and there is a widespread perception among the public that the government is corrupt.
Transparency International’s 2018 survey scored Tunisia 43 out of a possible 100 points on its Corruption Perceptions Index, positioning the country 73rd in a field of 180.
Since the 2011 revolution, economic growth has been stunted, leading to ingrained unemployment and widespread poverty, particularly in rural areas – regions in which Qalb Tounes now seeks to make gains.