The Guardian view on Tunisia’s new autocrat: Saied’s enablers should stop | Editorial
GuardianApr 20, 2023
A Tunisian court sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the opposition Ennahda party, to a year in jail and a fine of 1K dinars (~$300) on charges of plotting against state security. Ghannouchi has said that the proceedings against him have been fabricated.
Ghannouchi was originally arrested last month over comments he allegedly made calling police officers "tyrants." He also warned that a "civil war" could emerge if the government worked to eradicate left-wing and Islamist opposition groups.
President Saied is, yet again, using his power to strengthen his iron grip over Tunisia. 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 is cracking down on dissent to guarantee his control over civil society. A national dialogue must be undertaken to save Tunisian democracy and align it with the norms of the international community.
Tunisians are tired of the corruption and dysfunction brought by the country's "post-Arab Spring parties," namely the Islamist Ennahda party. Ennahda, which dominated Tunisian politics over the last 10 years, has worked against the Tunisian people. The country was on the brink of collapse before Saied dissolved parliament, and his actions were and continue to be necessary to maintain order and stability.