Zawaya

To build trust, we need an institution monitoring the government

By: Adel Rochdy

The post-revolution in Tunisia is an equation with many unknown variables.

First of all, how can the effectiveness of the transitional government be ensured whereas a large part of the population, the leftist political parties and even the Islamist party “Ennahdha”, do not recognize its legitimacy?

Secondly, how to ensure that the legitimate demands of workers, arbitrarily dismissed employees and unemployed people, will be satisfied in a timely manner?

Finally, how will the current security issue be solved?

1- The first Tunisian government is, frankly, a joke. A number of old figures from the previous regime kept their positions as government officials, and some even occupied key posts in the ministries of interior, defence and foreign affairs. It took protesters a week-long sit-in to get rid of the chieftains of Ben Ali’s era, except for the Prime Minister who maintained his position.

The Tunisian people – which is the only custodian of the revolution – is known for its nonviolence. After the relief of ousting the dictator, the post-revolution relaxation encouraged the government to act without any monitoring, and to adopt a course of action without consulting with other parties, the civil society and national organizations.

That’s one step away from questioning the government’s good intentions.

Therefore, it is absolutely crucial to establish a few control agencies to monitor the government.

Let’s not forget the crisis of trust existing between the citizens and the State, and that the people will never accept blurred governance.

2- The popular demands are legitimate. Poverty, employment and precarious wages are undeniable facts that require reassuring solutions, as the emergency measures have been forthcoming. The government needs time and financial resources. As a matter of fact, the main aim of the revolution was to require a new distribution of wealth in order to benefit the neediest regions and populations.

The government has actually started delivering some aid and restoring the rights of the employees affected by overruns.

Strikes and sit-ins are a definite impediment to the efforts of the government and State institutions. Protests must go on, but in a more flexible way (wearing red armbands or protesting during the weekends), in order to allow the establishment of new structures and the adjustment of emergency situations.

3- The security situation is still worrisome.

The country witnesses daily robberies, unauthorized buildings on the property of others, and even murders sometimes.

Who benefits from these violent acts, and who is behind them?

The main two suspects are the armed militia of the former dictator’s party, and the criminal gangs who escaped from prison during the revolution.

A third suspect is added to the list: the Islamist extremist “Hizb Ettahrir”, this small group that advocates the establishment of a Caliphate and the application of Islamic Sharia.

Its members are already facing the charge of having forced some brothels to close down, and are suspected of having murdered a priest in Tunis.

The security forces have already arrested many criminals, whilst activists of “Hizb Ettahrir” are freely moving and preaching in the streets. Therefore, one wonders whether the government is replaying the same scenario of the former dictator by claiming that the country is facing extremism, “let us work or chaos will reign”.

The current situation will remain unclear as long as the government is not fully transparent. That’s why a monitoring agency is needed now more than ever to ensure a smooth transition in the best of conditions, while waiting for the free and democratic elections that should put the country back on track.