Tunisia: checks are possible. The language of Tunisian political leaders is very clear in principle. They affirm their resolve to respect freedom and democracy. First and foremost, this means freedom of the press and equal rights for women. Is what they are saying true? The way to know this is simple - take them literally and reproduce what they say in order to check if this then corresponds to reality.
As far as I'm aware, the most appropriate text for this exercise is Rached Ghannouchi's interview on behalf of the Ennahdha party - the political party in power. Published in France (in the Journal du Dimanche), this interview presents a positive image of Tunisian democracy. Here's the essence of it: “We have moved to a total freedom that we have never known… For this year, we plan a new electoral law, a new constitution, the election of a new Assembly and of a new president. The elections could take place in the autumn… Islam is not uniform - it includes radicals and moderates, and we are at the head of the moderate part… It's enough just to go for a walk to see that the mosque is open, the bars and beaches are open. We welcomed 6 million tourists last year and no dress code was imposed on them. In the street you pass women who cover their hair and those who wear it uncovered. Ennahdha believes that the murder of Chokri Belaïd (from the secular opposition) was a terrible crime and called for a national day of mourning”.
Mr Ghannouchi added: “We need a constitution, a civil state with shared rights and duties in accordance with the principles of citizenship; confirmation of gender equality and political pluralism; the universal principles of human rights”.
These extracts are enough. What is spoken flies, what is written never dies - we can check if the words correspond to reality and if the freedom and equality of women carry more weight than the violence of the Salafists.
Respecting national autonomy. Tunisian citizens living in Brussels say that, in reality, the Islamist party in power is the champion of doublespeak. It obtained a landslide victory in the 2011 elections thanks to the religious faith of the population who were called to vote for the first time. But a large number of Tunisians living in Europe predict, and want, the result of the next elections to be radically different - if the government in power still respects its commitment to organise elections this year, that is - and they want the landslide of 2011 to be in the opposite direction.
However, we must not forget the positive impression that Tunisian personalities have recently left in Brussels - particularly when they spoke before the European Parliament. Their intention to respect democracy and freedom seemed sincere. And the new prime minister, Ali Larayedh, has stated: “The new government will be the government of all Tunisian men and women - men and women being equal in rights and duties”. He deplored the laxness of the police with regard to extremists - extremists who Ali Larayedh believes are the greatest danger for Tunisia today. When he was minister of the interior, he had said: “If need be, I would re-establish visas for foreign preachers” - thus highlighting the fact that extremist Salafists who are opposed to the freedom of women are often not Tunisian.
What is the truth about the Tunisian political situation? The nature of the future links between the EU and Tunisia will broadly depend on it.
Special relationship with Maghreb. Why go into such detail on so many domestic Tunisian issues? Because for Europe, the relationship with the Maghreb is special from all points of view - historical, geographical, economic, social and religious. The peoples of the two shores of the Mediterranean have become mixed over the centuries and they continue to mix now. In several European countries, political personalities, intellectuals, artists and sportspeople are of Arab origin. Yet the Maghreb is far from representing a compact whole. The countries which make up the Maghreb are sometimes still separated by conflicts. They trade very little between one another and this trade is often far weaker than it is it with the EU. Each country on the south shore of the Mediterranean wants specific relations with the EU - relations which are based on energy cooperation for Algeria, or on industrial cooperation, on tourism or on emigration. In all cases, the demand for links and cooperation is evident. This column will return to this.
(FR/transl.fl)