Elections in India turn into festivity for citizens across the country, wherever campaigning by political parties takes place. Indian media characterises activities around elections as the ‘dance of democracy’. This is perhaps in order as India is known globally for sustaining her democratic politics despite many challenges in other sectors – social, economic, developmental etc. Since the Arab Spring protests in December 2010 that heralded a wave of transitions to democracy across Middle-East, several dictatorial regimes were pulled down. Tunisia has been the epicentre of the Arab Spring, which is also called the Jasmine Revolution.
The origin of the Arab Spring could be traced to an incident in Tunisia when a fruit vendor was harassed by the city government officials. The poor fruit vendor, a 27-year old Ṭāriq aṭ-Ṭayib Muḥammad al-Būʿazīzī had borrowed money to set up his stall and was completely unable to pay the extortion money (bribe) demanded by the officials. In exasperation, he set himself on fire on 17 December 2010 in Ben Arous, Tunisia, which became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring against dictatorial regimes across the region.
In Tunisia itself, the protests led to the fall of the 23-year regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Ben Ali ruling since 1987 had to flee the country in the mass uprising. In fact, Tunisia was the only country that experienced a successful transition from dictatorship to democracy. The protests had spread like forest fire to other Arab countries – Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen and Syria. The other notable casualty of the revolution was the fall of the 30-year-long dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt although the revolution did not sustain long in that country. Two years later, in 2013, the military seized power by toppling the elected government of President Mohammed Morsi, the leader of a party called Muslim Brotherhood.
In other Arab countries that were engulfed by the flames of the Arab Spring, the protest resulted in various unanticipated outcomes. Libya slipped into a civil war, saw the fall of Gaddhafi regime, and later chaos and confusion continue to haunt the country. In Bahrain, the protest was crushed by the troops sent by Saudi Arabia in support of the Sunni monarchy that ruled over the Shiah majority. In Yemen, following the resignation of the President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Shia Houthi rebels took over. But the country has been under attack by Saudis. In Syria, protests turned into a proxy civil war with President Bashar al-Assad and his opponents backed by their respective international supporters.
Back to Tunisia, the 2014 Constitution, emerging out of political churning, in the wake of Jasmine revolution, provided for sharing of power between the President and the Prime Minister who is to be backed by the majority in the Parliament. Both the President and Parliament were to be directly elected by the people. However, the election of the Islamist Ennahda Party upset the progressive and secular forces. The politics remained divided. The country had as many as nine governments between 2011 and 2021. The economy was in a bad shape, made worse by Covid-19 pandemic which caused one of the highest per capita global death rates in Tunisia. In the face of such economic and healthcare crises, people rose in revolt again in July last year.
In order to quell the unrest, President of Tunisia, Kais Saied sacked the Prime Minister Hichem Mechich and suspended Parliament, plunging Tunisia into a constitutional crisis. Remember, under the 2014 Constitution, such crises should be settled by a Constitutional court. Since the court was not constituted yet, the President took advantage and assumed all the powers; appointed a new Prime Minister, dissolved the suspended Parliament earlier this year, and planned to re-write the Constitution, allowing more powers to him. Despite his promise that the spirit of Jasmine revolution consisting of bread, liberty and dignity will be retained, the proposed new Constitution converts Tunisian politics into a Presidential form, reducing the powers of the Parliament.
According to the new provisions, the President will have ultimate power to form the government, to appoint ministers without Parliament’s approval, appoint judges and formulate legislations. Worse, the President cannot be removed by the law-makers. Over the year, the President alone is practically running the country without the essential checks on his powers. The international observers suggest that the unchecked Presidential powers would return Tunisia to an autocratic constitutional order. However, the indications coming from Tunisia point to the President on a slippery slop as he receives scanty support from the public.
The current challenge in Tunisia in consolidating its democratic gains after the revolution, gives the scope for a deeper diplomatic interaction with India which is, internationally, especially in the South of the world, known for its strong democratic credentials. In addition to usual trade and commerce, political collaboration in mutual interest among the countries is also in order. The internationally accepted premise is that political developments within a country fall under the concepts of ‘national sovereignty’ and ‘right to self-determination’. But these concepts have been debunked as many individual countries struggle for peace, justice, freedom and human rights all enshrined in the philosophy and practice of democracy. A country and its people may need those political inputs and support from another country in order to build and enhance progressive political institutions and practices.
India has maintained cordial and friendly relations with Tunisia since establishment of diplomatic contact in 1958. Tunisian leaders have expressed appreciation for India’s democracy and its founders such as Mahatma Gandhi and have acknowledged the experience of India’s freedom struggle as an inspiration for their country. Several high-level visits have taken place since then. Even in the post-revolution Tunisia, visits at high level from both countries have taken place. Mechanisms for bilateral consultations exist between the two countries. They are mainly; Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs), Joint Commissions and Joint Working Groups.
There are several other bilateral cooperations in multiple sectors. To cite some of them, India-Tunisia Cooperation in Science and Technology started in October 1995. Cooperation under India-Africa Forum has provided for support from the Indian Scientific Community on the specific problems of the African Continent. One such agency to receive support is in Tunisia called Institute Pasteur of Tunis (IPT) which has a close cooperation with the International Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) of New Delhi. Furthermore, India offers scholarships and training slots for Tunisian scholars and officials.
India and Tunisia also have considerable bilateral trade, India accounting for around 50 per cent of Tunisia’s global phosphoric acid exports. Quite a few Indian companies are active there. Export potential to Tunisia is growing in sectors like pharmaceuticals, vehicles, renewable energy, software and services. There is a considerable exchange in the field of culture. Indian artists have performed in Tunisia and artisans from Tunisia have participated in trade fairs in India. International Day of Yoga has been celebrated in Tunis.
To conclude, India needs to deepen its political contacts with Tunisia, the only country which has tried to embrace the spirit of Arab Spring and has been building the democratic edifice. —INFA
