Tunisians are voting in an election critics say could cement a return to autocracy
NPR Online NewsNov 25, 2022
Tunisian Parliamentary Election Yields 8.8% Turnout
story
Image copyright: Tunisian Presidency Press Service Handout/EPA [via The Guardian]
The Facts
Tunisians headed to the polls on Saturday to elect a new parliament, but only 8.8% of the electorate reportedly showed up to cast their vote. A number of prominent opposition parties boycotted the election, which contributed to the low turnout.
The vote comes as Tunisia's economic crisis continues to deteriorate and concerns of "democratic backsliding" mount. The North African nation was a lynchpin of the 2011 Arab Spring protests.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Kais Saied is, yet again, gutting Tunisia's institutions to strengthen his iron grip over the country. Though he's said that he doesn't want to become an autocrat, his unscrupulous actions speak far louder. Using the growing pains of Tunisia's young democracy as a pretext, he has taken over the North African nation and has used this election to cement his control over a new parliament. A national dialogue must be undertaken to save Tunisian democracy.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though Saied's critics love to paint him as a dictator, the fact that they can level such criticisms proves that he's not. Tunisians are tired of the corruption and dysfunction brought by the country's post-Arab Spring parties, namely the Islamist Ennahda party. Tunisia was on the brink of collapse before Saied dissolved parliament, and his actions were necessary to maintain order and stability.
