The first democratic elections in the birthplace of the Arab Spring have turned ugly with protesters incensed about the disqualification of populist candidate Hachmi Hamdi.
Tunisia was the symbolic and actual birthplace of the Arab Spring. Egypt may have gotten most of the media attention in 2011, particular because of Tahrir Square (which influenced Occupy Wall Street), but it was the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi that lit the fuse of rebellion across the world.
There was much fanfare surrounding the democratic elections in Tunisia, but yesterday, October 27th, populist candidate Hachmi Hamdi—a London-based businessman—was disqualified for alleged campaign violations, according to Reuters. And as the votes came in it became clear that “Islamist Ennahda party had won 41 percent of the votes and 90 seats of the 217-member assembly,” according to NPR. The center-left parties Ettakatol and Congress for the Republic (CPR) came in second and third, respectively.
Hamdi’s supporters responded by setting fire to the Sidi Bouzid mayor’s office and other buildings.
There is some suspicion amongst Tunisians that Ben Ali supporters are attempting to sabotage the election. Hamdi himself had formerly backed Ben Ali before the deposed autocrat fled to Saudi Arabia.
Reuters also reported that the protest continued this morning when a crowd attempted to attack the regional governor’s office and were fired upon by soldiers. A curfew will now be in force as of this evening.
Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of the rightwing Ennahda Party, appealed to Tunisias living in Sidi Bouzid for peacefulness, stating, “Ennahda calls on Tunisians to pull together, for dialogue and the rejection of violence … Sidi Bouzid will be given priority in our programme of development.”
International observers, however, have confirmed the elections were fair, while a CNN opinion piece by Arshin Adib-Moghaddam suggests Ennahda’s win is another step in a post-modernized Islam, or “civic Islam”—an Islam that is “politically secular and operates in a distinctly pragmatist mode.”
Whatever the outcome, one can bet U.S. intelligence will be keeping a close eye on developments.
