Why did Tunisia turn its back on democracy?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 28 July 2022
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Tunisian President Kais Saied has drafted a new constitution for Tunisia that gives him new sweeping powers, including authority over the judiciary and immunity for life from prosecution.
Tunisia was a beacon of hope for democracy after the Arab Spring. The country rid itself of dictator Ben Ali after 24 years of rule and moved to a more democratic system.
Now the country seems to be sliding back towards the one man rule that it has known for generations.
This week on The Inquiry we are asking why Tunisia has turned its back on democracy.
Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Researchers: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and Christopher Blake Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Editor: Tara McDermott
(Tunisian presidential Kais Saied in Tunis. BBC Images)
Transcript
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| 0:49.2 | Welcome to the inquiry each week. |
| 0:51.9 | One question for expert witnesses and an answer. |
| 0:58.9 | At first glance, the photograph seemed unremarkable, |
| 1:03.6 | taken in July of this year to mature white-haired men smiling |
| 1:08.1 | and shaking hands as one handed over a slim pile of papers to the other. |
| 1:13.7 | In the background, an ornate wall decked with the red and white flag of Tunisia. |
| 1:20.9 | But for many people across the Middle East indeed all over the world, |
| 1:25.6 | the picture was a sign that something had veered badly, of course. |
... |
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