Tunisians are voting in an election critics say could cement a return to autocracy
NPR Online NewsMAR 27 2023
Kais Saied is, yet again, gutting Tunisia's institutions to strengthen his iron grip over the country. Though he's said that he doesn't want to become an autocrat, his unscrupulous actions speak far louder. Using the growing pains of Tunisia's young democracy as a pretext, he has taken over the North African nation and has used this election to cement his control over a new parliament. A national dialogue must be undertaken to save Tunisian democracy.
Though Saied's critics love to paint him as a dictator, the fact that they can level such criticisms proves that he's not. Tunisians are tired of the corruption and dysfunction brought by the country's post-Arab Spring parties, namely the Islamist Ennahda party. Tunisia was on the brink of collapse before Saied dissolved parliament, and his actions were necessary to maintain order and stability.