Troubled waters in Tunisia

Selon certains médias européens, Tunisia is getting better, since tourism is on the rise again…

But seen from Tunisia, the feeling is quite different: a large margin of the population sees their standard of living fall, they think they rose up against a dictatorship in January 2011 hoping to earn a more dignified life… but it was not the case. La fracture sociale est toujours flagrante ; a country that evolves to 2 vitesses : on the one hand the outrageous enrichment of some and the impoverishment of the greatest number on the other.

Popular revolt rumbles

Le constat est toujours le même sur l’austérité, on social inequalities, sur la marginalisation d’une partie de la population. Also inequality in the distribution of wealth at regional level.

Since 9 January 2018, clashes resumed between protesters and law enforcement for the second consecutive night in several regions of the country.

Protesters, including young schoolchildren and high school students (and some vandals), ont incendié des pneus et dans certains cas, bloqué des rues ou routes et lancé des pierres sur les forces de l’ordre qui ont répliqué par des jets de gaz lacrymogène.

Army dispatched to protect state-owned establishments, but also supermarkets, and to avoid looting.

In several cities, public buildings were damaged during these demonstrations, and, according to the Ministry of the Interior, dozens of people were arrested.

Ces incidents exprimeraient le mécontentement suite à l’augmentation des prix et les nouvelles mesures d’austérité prévues par le gouvernement dans la loi de Finances 2018.

Directed confrontations? Spontaneous? Popular? Policies?

Clashes have occurred in particular à La Manouba (El Jdaïda gouvernorat de la Manouba), Kelibia, Ben arous, Hammam Chat, Nabeul, Basket, Nabeul Governorate. Hammamet Nord, Siliana, Menzel Bourguiba et Zarzouna. Sousse (Bouhsina – Sahloul – Kalaa Kbira…), Sfax, Kébili, Beja, Nefza, Gafsa, Jelma Governorate of Sidi Bouzid, Tebourba…

Youssef Chahed, intractable

The head of government, Youssef Chahed, meanwhile asserts that violence will not be accepted and that dialogue is the solution.

Commenting on the events on a Tunisian radio, le chef du gouvernement a estimé que ce sont des actes de violence et de vandalisme et non pas de protestation. “In democracies, there are no night protests"He hammered by asserting that the law will be applied to thugs and their principals. Il a rappelé que le droit de manifester est garanti par la loi et que le gouvernement est prêt à entendre les personnes qui revendiquent et protestent pacifiquement. Claiming that rumors, de fausses informations sont véhiculées sur les réseaux sociaux. “We on our part, we have to clarify things. It is the same for political parties and organizations which must help us to clarify the situation to public opinion and to ease the tension ” he added.

Last difficult year for Tunisia

otherwise, il a affirmé que la question relative à « the increase excessive des prix est exagérée. »

“It is true that Tunisia is going through a difficult period, but there are the beginnings of an improvement in the situation of the country ” a-t-il répliqué en ajoutant que “2018 will be the last difficult year for Tunisia”.

May he tell the truth…

Patrizia Milazzo