Tunisia’s 2019 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: An Anti-Establishment Ballot and a Crumbled Political Landscape
On the night of the 15th of September, the results of the first round of the second post-2011 presidential elections in Tunisia started to emerge. On the 6th of October, Tunisians voted to elect a new parliament. Awaiting the second round of presidential elections taking place on the 13th of October, this paper will attempt a primary analysis of the profound changes the latest ballots’ results will have in the country’s political scene and its consequences on Tunisia’s upcoming five years.
The Tunisian Democratic Transition: A Critically Threatened Process
At a Glance:
The ‘good student’ of the Arab Spring is facing serious issues that are severely hampering its democratization process. Disengagement from public affairs is increasing as living conditions are worsening and political representatives fail to offer viable solutions. As old authoritarian practices persist, figures of Ben Ali’s era have resurfaced and are quickly gaining legitimacy on the political scene.
Regionalism in North Africa: the Arab Maghreb Union in 2019
Submitted by May Barth on Fri, 06/07/2019 - 11:01
On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), this contribution discusses the state of play since its creation. This desire is all the more motivated by the fact that many events have taken place since the beginning of year 2019. On one hand, set aside at the signing of the Marrakech Treaty, the conflict over the Western Sahara is one of the situations that makes the AMU inoperable.
Sudan: Economy and Military in the Fall of Bashir
After thirty years in power, President Omar al-Bashir has been forced from office in Sudan. The announcement by the Sudanese military came following weeks of public demonstrations, which have led to sometimes violent repression. This paper explores some of the key dynamics of the ongoing situation in Sudan.
Tunisia: How Economic Mismanagement Continues to Undermine the Democratic Process
At A Glance:
As an initiator of the Arab spring in December 2010, Tunisia is regarded as the only successful transition process in the MENA region. The country is holding its legislative and presidential elections this year, respectively on the 6th of October and 10th of November 2019. However, election euphoria risks hiding a less optimistic picture.
Algerian Elections: Protests, Bouteflika, and the Absence of Alternatives
Popular protests in Algeria against the proposed re-election of ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika have gripped the world’s attention. In an apparent breakthrough, Bouteflika announced that he was to withdraw from the election process altogether, but with this the entire election process was postponed indefinitely. This article examines this, and focuses on the power vacuum in Algeria’s opposition, suggesting that the continued absence of any credible challenger to Bouteflika has been central to this political drama.