Soooooo, No Democracy For You?

Tunisia is responsible for the first of many uprisings that swept through the Middle East this year, rebelling against dictatorship and fighting for democracy. In theory, I was somewhat excited to see how these protests would change the political structure of some of the most corrupt countries in world. However, given the reputation and history of this completely messed up region, is it wise to be optimistic? Or is it just flat out foolish?

On October 23^rd, which is today, Tunisia is due to elect 217 members of an assembly that will write a new constitution and pave the way for legislative and probably also presidential elections next year.

NAHDA, an Islamist party, is said to take 20% of those votes! Shoot me. Many have said that they have yet to decide. Yet to decide what? If they want to live in an oppressive and demoralizing country again or if they want to actually gain some rights? Yes, I can see how that can be a tough decision. Those who have to yet to decide may very well have made up their minds. The only factor stopping them from announcing it publicly is that NAHDA was a main target of repression under Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali until he was overthrown in January.

“Rachid Ghannouchi, the president of NAHDA, has reiterated that his party seeks to be merely one political force in a multi-party democracy. It has gone further than its rivals in proposing to water down the powers of the presidency, advocating a constitution that it says would follow the German or British systems in giving most executive powers to a prime minister.”

Yes, and I just want a Unicorn. But they don’t exist. Nor does the combination of an Islamist party and a democracy.

On the other side of the spectrum, the party representing democracy “believes that a constituent assembly and subsequently a parliament in which Islamists held a controlling bloc would be disastrous.” Really!? You don’t say!

If you are going to have an uprising, do it properly. If the future of Tunisia sees an extremist party gain power I’d have to say that democracy, my friends, is just not for you (so unfortunate!). Due to the complex web that is the Middle East, having more than just one country that stands for democracy would be somewhat refreshing. Even more so, hope that the rest of the countries that fought an uprising get their shit together now solely belongs to the optimists of the world. (not me)

Frustrated!!