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At Birthplace of the Arab Spring, Discontent Opens a Door to the Past At Birthplace of the Arab Spring, Discontent Opens a Door to the Past
(35 minutes later)
TUNIS — Chaima Issa, a poet and the daughter of a former political prisoner, is determined to keep Tunisia’s revolution alive.TUNIS — Chaima Issa, a poet and the daughter of a former political prisoner, is determined to keep Tunisia’s revolution alive.
She is running as a candidate for a small democratic party in parliamentary elections next weekend in one of the most populous constituencies of the capital. A 34-year-old who wears purple-frame glasses, a tight white T-shirt and jeans, she is an outsider but a passionate one as she crisscrosses the old quarter of Tunis reaching out to voters.She is running as a candidate for a small democratic party in parliamentary elections next weekend in one of the most populous constituencies of the capital. A 34-year-old who wears purple-frame glasses, a tight white T-shirt and jeans, she is an outsider but a passionate one as she crisscrosses the old quarter of Tunis reaching out to voters.
Almost four years after a popular uprising that overthrew President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and set off the Arab Spring in 2011, Tunisians are grappling with price increases, unemployment and rising terrorism — and roundly blame their politicians for the mess. The frustration is such that people often say they wish for a return of the Ben Ali era.Almost four years after a popular uprising that overthrew President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and set off the Arab Spring in 2011, Tunisians are grappling with price increases, unemployment and rising terrorism — and roundly blame their politicians for the mess. The frustration is such that people often say they wish for a return of the Ben Ali era.
Tunisia has been torn by ideological divisions between Islamists who won the first elections after the revolution in 2011 and secularists who led a protest movement against the Islamist government last year after the assassination of two members of Parliament. Now riding on the wave of discontent, former officials from the Ben Ali government, who are free to run for office for the first time since the uprising, are attempting a comeback.Tunisia has been torn by ideological divisions between Islamists who won the first elections after the revolution in 2011 and secularists who led a protest movement against the Islamist government last year after the assassination of two members of Parliament. Now riding on the wave of discontent, former officials from the Ben Ali government, who are free to run for office for the first time since the uprising, are attempting a comeback.
It is a prospect that incenses Ms. Issa.It is a prospect that incenses Ms. Issa.
“It is horrible, shameful,” she said. “They are profiting from our revolution; they are picking our flowers. It is they who spilled our blood.”“It is horrible, shameful,” she said. “They are profiting from our revolution; they are picking our flowers. It is they who spilled our blood.”
In the capital’s old city recently, Ms. Issa found voters in an angry mood and vowing not to vote at all for the politicians, whom they clearly distrust. “All they want is a position, and then they never let go!” shouted one market worker striding past a group of workers from Ms. Issa’s National Democratic Alliance party who were wearing white party T-shirts and handing out leaflets and waving flags. “Long live Ben Ali!” shouted a vendor when he saw her party flags.In the capital’s old city recently, Ms. Issa found voters in an angry mood and vowing not to vote at all for the politicians, whom they clearly distrust. “All they want is a position, and then they never let go!” shouted one market worker striding past a group of workers from Ms. Issa’s National Democratic Alliance party who were wearing white party T-shirts and handing out leaflets and waving flags. “Long live Ben Ali!” shouted a vendor when he saw her party flags.
Tunisians will elect a new Parliament on Sunday, and then a month later vote for a new president, with a possible presidential runoff on Dec. 28. The elections will end a transitional period that has seen four interim governments since 2011.Tunisians will elect a new Parliament on Sunday, and then a month later vote for a new president, with a possible presidential runoff on Dec. 28. The elections will end a transitional period that has seen four interim governments since 2011.
Among those fielding candidates are seven or eight parties formed by officials of Mr. Ben Ali’s government and four former ministers who are contesting the presidential election. Barred from running for office in the 2011 elections for a constituent assembly, those former officials have been allowed to take part in the 2014 parliamentary and presidential elections after a vote to exclude them was narrowly defeated in the National Constituent Assembly last year.Among those fielding candidates are seven or eight parties formed by officials of Mr. Ben Ali’s government and four former ministers who are contesting the presidential election. Barred from running for office in the 2011 elections for a constituent assembly, those former officials have been allowed to take part in the 2014 parliamentary and presidential elections after a vote to exclude them was narrowly defeated in the National Constituent Assembly last year.
Many of the smaller democratic parties feel threatened by the return of members of the former government and in particular associates of Mr. Ben Ali from the former governing party, the R.C.D., who they say have retained their business and political connections and command substantial wealth.Many of the smaller democratic parties feel threatened by the return of members of the former government and in particular associates of Mr. Ben Ali from the former governing party, the R.C.D., who they say have retained their business and political connections and command substantial wealth.
The main Islamist party, Ennahda, voted to allow the return of former officials despite internal opposition, calculating that to include them in politics would reduce the antagonism that has been aimed against their party. Rather than exclude them, let the electorate decide, said Rachid Ghannouchi, Ennahda’s leader.The main Islamist party, Ennahda, voted to allow the return of former officials despite internal opposition, calculating that to include them in politics would reduce the antagonism that has been aimed against their party. Rather than exclude them, let the electorate decide, said Rachid Ghannouchi, Ennahda’s leader.
Some of the former officials have been feted on their return. An effusive crowd greeted Mr. Ben Ali’s former health minister, Mondher Zenaidi, when he flew back to Tunis from self-exile in France last month. Party workers were hanging red bunting outside the newly painted campaign headquarters of the Destourian Movement on Saturday as former officials clustered around their presidential candidate, Abderrahim Zouari, 70, a stalwart of the Ben Ali government who was released from prison last year, acquitted of corruption charges.Some of the former officials have been feted on their return. An effusive crowd greeted Mr. Ben Ali’s former health minister, Mondher Zenaidi, when he flew back to Tunis from self-exile in France last month. Party workers were hanging red bunting outside the newly painted campaign headquarters of the Destourian Movement on Saturday as former officials clustered around their presidential candidate, Abderrahim Zouari, 70, a stalwart of the Ben Ali government who was released from prison last year, acquitted of corruption charges.
A larger number of former officials have also joined Nidaa Tounes, a party led by the 87-year-old statesman Beji Caid Essebsi, who served as a senior official under both of Tunisia’s authoritarian leaders but who was nevertheless considered acceptable enough to serve as interim prime minister in 2011. Mr. Essebsi helped lead the backlash against the Islamists last year and is now the front-runner for the presidential election. His party is vying with Ennahda to win the most seats in Parliament.A larger number of former officials have also joined Nidaa Tounes, a party led by the 87-year-old statesman Beji Caid Essebsi, who served as a senior official under both of Tunisia’s authoritarian leaders but who was nevertheless considered acceptable enough to serve as interim prime minister in 2011. Mr. Essebsi helped lead the backlash against the Islamists last year and is now the front-runner for the presidential election. His party is vying with Ennahda to win the most seats in Parliament.
Opinions polls show Nida Tounes and Ennahda each garnering roughly a third of national support. Neither is expected to win an outright majority and so under Tunisia’s parliamentary system the party with the most seats will need to find coalition partners to form a government. Many, including Western governments eager to see some stability brought to North Africa, are encouraging the main parties to join together in a government of national unity.Opinions polls show Nida Tounes and Ennahda each garnering roughly a third of national support. Neither is expected to win an outright majority and so under Tunisia’s parliamentary system the party with the most seats will need to find coalition partners to form a government. Many, including Western governments eager to see some stability brought to North Africa, are encouraging the main parties to join together in a government of national unity.
How the old guard — often referred to as Destourians after the original name of the R.C.D., the French initials for the Constitutional Democratic Rally — will fare in the elections is one of the unknowns. “The main question is whether the Destourians make a comeback,” said Michael Ayari, researcher for the International Crisis Group in Tunisia. “Will they return as a political force or not?”How the old guard — often referred to as Destourians after the original name of the R.C.D., the French initials for the Constitutional Democratic Rally — will fare in the elections is one of the unknowns. “The main question is whether the Destourians make a comeback,” said Michael Ayari, researcher for the International Crisis Group in Tunisia. “Will they return as a political force or not?”
The tumult of the last four years has made many Tunisians look back favorably on the certainties of the authoritarian governments of the past, in particular the era of Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia’s first president after independence. People even express support for Mr. Ben Ali and his officials in a surge of nostalgia as they recall the low prices, security and clean streets under his governance.The tumult of the last four years has made many Tunisians look back favorably on the certainties of the authoritarian governments of the past, in particular the era of Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia’s first president after independence. People even express support for Mr. Ben Ali and his officials in a surge of nostalgia as they recall the low prices, security and clean streets under his governance.
“If they come back, we will greet them at the airport,” said Fatima Ben Hamem, a mother of five, who was attending a campaign rally for Ennahda in the neighborhood of Ibn Sina in Tunis Saturday. “They say Ben Ali stole — God knows if he did — but he did not steal from the poor people.” “If they come back, we will greet them at the airport,” said Fatima Ben Hamem, a mother of five, who was attending a campaign rally for Ennahda in the neighborhood of Ibn Sina in Tunis on Saturday. “They say Ben Ali stole — God knows if he did — but he did not steal from the poor people.”
A survey conducted in the spring by the Pew Research Center found that 59 percent of Tunisians supported a leader with a strong hand, up from 37 percent two years ago. Meanwhile, only 38 percent prefer democratic government to solve the nation’s problems, down from 61 percent in the same period.A survey conducted in the spring by the Pew Research Center found that 59 percent of Tunisians supported a leader with a strong hand, up from 37 percent two years ago. Meanwhile, only 38 percent prefer democratic government to solve the nation’s problems, down from 61 percent in the same period.
The nostalgia has alarmed some, leading a group of journalists to produce a documentary titled “Seven Lives,” which examines the phenomenon of nostalgia for Mr. Ben Ali — a mix of psychological insecurity; a typically human desire for routine; and ignorance of the uglier elements of his rule, including the torture and repression, but also something as basic as the economy, the film concludes.The nostalgia has alarmed some, leading a group of journalists to produce a documentary titled “Seven Lives,” which examines the phenomenon of nostalgia for Mr. Ben Ali — a mix of psychological insecurity; a typically human desire for routine; and ignorance of the uglier elements of his rule, including the torture and repression, but also something as basic as the economy, the film concludes.
Those who have studied other societies in transition — namely post-Communist countries — say it is to be expected that former officials will make a comeback after several years. Those who have studied other societies in transition — namely post-communist countries — say it is to be expected that former officials will make a comeback after several years.
“The second elections always see the return of the old regime,” said Munir Dahfous, campaign manager for the centrist Al-Jamhouri party. Yet he, like many others, predicts that the achievements of the revolution, including freedoms enshrined in a new constitution, cannot be undone. “We will see the return of the people, but not the system,” he said. “The second elections always see the return of the old regime,” said Munir Dahfous, campaign manager for the centrist Al-Jamhouri party. Yet he, like many others, predicts that the achievements of the revolution, including freedoms enshrined in a new Constitution, cannot be undone. “We will see the return of the people, but not the system,” he said.
Mr. Zouari, whom many see as the most hard-line of Mr. Ben Ali’s ministers running for office, is intent on reminding citizens that life was better under the former government. The Destourians could form a bloc in Parliament and are receiving overtures from other parties, he said in an interview on Saturday. “We will be not a majority, but a considerable group,” he said.Mr. Zouari, whom many see as the most hard-line of Mr. Ben Ali’s ministers running for office, is intent on reminding citizens that life was better under the former government. The Destourians could form a bloc in Parliament and are receiving overtures from other parties, he said in an interview on Saturday. “We will be not a majority, but a considerable group,” he said.
“What is important now is that the machine, the machinery of the R.C.D., was sick and now there is oil in its engine and it is beginning to turn,” he said. “We have experience, we know the land and the dossier, and we can be operational from tomorrow.”“What is important now is that the machine, the machinery of the R.C.D., was sick and now there is oil in its engine and it is beginning to turn,” he said. “We have experience, we know the land and the dossier, and we can be operational from tomorrow.”
Most political opponents and analysts predict, however, that the Ben Ali officials will make little showing and that voters will reject them at the polls.Most political opponents and analysts predict, however, that the Ben Ali officials will make little showing and that voters will reject them at the polls.
“They are not strong,” said Samir Taieb, a legislative candidate of the social democratic party, Al-Mossar. “They are spread across several parties.” “They are not strong,” said Samir Taieb, a legislative candidate of the social democratic party Al-Mossar. “They are spread across several parties.”
Yet others warn that their influence is insidious. “The old regime always worked covertly,” Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, a presidential candidate and veteran dissident, said in an interview. “There is a risk of a return, a masked return, of the old regime. In effect, there is a threat to the democratic process.”Yet others warn that their influence is insidious. “The old regime always worked covertly,” Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, a presidential candidate and veteran dissident, said in an interview. “There is a risk of a return, a masked return, of the old regime. In effect, there is a threat to the democratic process.”
For Ms. Issa, the poet, it is personal. Her father, a painter, spent eight years in prison while she was a teenager for his support for the Islamist movement, a spell she blames for causing her mother’s premature death.For Ms. Issa, the poet, it is personal. Her father, a painter, spent eight years in prison while she was a teenager for his support for the Islamist movement, a spell she blames for causing her mother’s premature death.
“They have the machine, they have the people, and money and that is what we fear,” she said.“They have the machine, they have the people, and money and that is what we fear,” she said.