Net yet Promised Land! This better summarises the current political situation in Tunisia and Egypt, two years after the people chased away their long-serving military leaders from power. Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali – president for 23 years - was the first to go on January 14, 2011 after a month of protests. They were sparked by the death of a disgruntled fruit seller, Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself ablaze on December 17, 2010. Egyptians soon followed suit, forcing Hosni Mubarak to resign on February 12, 2011 after 18 days of protests and 29 years of rule.
Hijacked Revolutions?
The two revolutions were a true demonstration of people’s power, but those who were at the forefront now find themselves almost relegated to the political background. Instead, Islamists, long persecuted both by Ben Ali and Mubarak, won subsequent elections and are today in power. Ennahda is the majority partner in the current Tunisian coalition, while Islamists have also won two referendums, two parliamentary elections and a presidential vote in Egypt, with the Moslem Brotherhood now in power. Such outcomes have led many to suggest that the two revolutions were hijacked.
Difficult Transitions
Egypt, after a period of transitional military rule, organised democratic presidential elections that culminated in the victory of Mohamed Mursi of the Moslem Brotherhood. The country now has a new constitution, with a promise by President Mursi to review it in the light of complaints that the views of others were not taken into account during the drafting and approval processes. New parliamentary elections are awaited following the cancellation of the last ones by the military. Tunisia, on the other hand, is still very much in transition with interim President Moncef Marzouki part of a coalition government headed by Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. His Islamist Ennahda Party holds the majority.
Contested Leadership
It has not been an easy ride for the Islamists in power in Tunisia and Egypt. A new cabinet is yet to be formed in Tunisia, months after the coalition partners agreed on it. The assassination earlier this month of Chokri Belaïd, a human rights activist and one of Ennahda's most outspoken critics, threatened to tear the coalition government apart. President Mursi’s legitimacy on the other hand has been repeatedly challenged by an opposition that accuses him of imposing a new form of authoritarianism. This has led to repeated waves of unrest that have prevented a return to stability.
Dashed Dreams?
The two North African revolutions were about better conditions of living, but the instability that has since set in has made it difficult to realise these dreams. The Tunisian opposition wants to see the establishment of a high commission that would schedule elections, promote a hands-off policy towards the judiciary, and address the demands of the revolution, including jobs and freedom of the press. On the other hand, the Egyptian Central Bank recently warned that the country’s foreign reserves were reaching critical levels. Furthermore, the country’s political forces have over the past two years not reached much consensus on the transition to democracy. The result has been an increasingly polarised and hostile political environment.
