FOR an exercise in Arab democracy, the dismissal of Tunisia’s prime minister was an act of rare maturity. From morning to night on July 30th, parliamentarians debated and criticised the incumbent, Habib Essid, heard his defence, and then voted him from power—by 118 to 3. Not a weapon was waved or fist thrown.
But though they cheered the performance, many Tunisians fear what follows. Behind the scenes, say political commentators, Beji Caid Essebsi, the country’s veteran president, is pulling the strings. The Arab world’s oldest leader, aged almost 90, his political career was forged in the nepotistic days of dictatorship. He is clearly grooming his son, Hafedh, who earlier this year he appointed head of his political party, Nidaa Tounes. And he has now promoted another loyalist, Youssef Chahed, to replace Mr Essid. “The president is still functioning as in the old days before the revolution,” says Farida Ayari, a veteran Tunisian journalist. “He didn’t understand that we are now supposed to be a parliamentary system, not a presidential one.”
The president had been trying to elbow out his prime minister, a lifelong...Continue reading
Source: Middle East and Africa http://ift.tt/2aBuW49
EmoticonEmoticon