logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
24m 32s

Why did Tunisia turn its back on democra...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Tunisian President Kais Saied has drafted a new constitution for Tunisia that gives him new sweeping powers, including authority over the judiciary and immunity for life from prosecution.

Tunisia was a beacon of hope for democracy after the Arab Spring. The country rid itself of dictator Ben Ali after 24 years of rule and moved to a more democratic system.

Now the country seems to be sliding back towards the one man rule that it has known for generations.

This week on The Inquiry we are asking why Tunisia has turned its back on democracy.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Researchers: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and Christopher Blake Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Editor: Tara McDermott

(Tunisian presidential Kais Saied in Tunis. BBC Images)

Up next
Apr 28
Should we mine the Moon?
The recent Nasa Artemis II crewed mission to the far side of the Moon is a further step towards a long-term return to the lunar surface and future missions to Mars. The plan is that before the end of the decade there will be a crewed landing and the start of a Moon base. China is ... Show More
23m 57s
Apr 21
Cycling: Is it time to swap four wheels for two?
Conflict in the Middle East has led to volatility in global oil prices, pushing up fuel costs worldwide. Previous oil shocks prompted some countries to reconsider their reliance on cars, investing in alternatives such as cycling. In some places, this has become part of everyday l ... Show More
24m 38s
Apr 14
How will countries boycotting Eurovision affect the contest?
Broadcasters from The Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia are all boycotting May’s Eurovision Song Contest because Israel is participating. Sources within Israel’s broadcaster say calls for it to be banned are unjustified, and organisers of the contest insist it mus ... Show More
24m 21s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Tunisia’s democracy on the brink
Tunisia in North Africa was the birthplace of the Arab Spring, a wave of popular uprisings that shook or toppled authoritarian regimes in the region. But, after a decade of fragile democracy, in 2019 a new strongman, President Kais Saied, swept to power. He directed his campaign ... Show More
49m 5s
Aug 2021
Trouble in Tunisia
<p>Tunisia was supposed to be the success story of the Arab Spring — the only democracy to last in the decade since revolutions swept the region.</p><p>Recently, after mass protests, President Kais Saied appears to be taking the reins of power for himself.</p><p>What happened? We ... Show More
26m 51s
Jul 2023
Tunisia’s democratic dream
Tunisia’s democracy is being dismantled by a president who claims he’s saving it from anarchy. Parliament has been dissolved, scores of judges sacked and opponents jailed. Once Tunisia - the north African country of just 12 million people squeezed between it’s much bigger neighbo ... Show More
27m 48s
Sep 2021
Tunisia's Popular Authoritarian
This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Dr. Monica Marks, a professor of Middle East politics at NYU Abu Dhabi who has been thinking about Tunisia for almost 15 years. They discuss Tunisian President Kais Saied's recent moves to consolidate power, why Tunisians seem to support him, w ... Show More
37m 2s
May 2023
Tunisie: une révolution confisquée?
La Tunisie a fait, pendant 10 ans, figure d’exception, seul pays à avoir mis sur pied une démocratie dans la foulée du Printemps arabe, après avoir chassé en janvier 2011 son président autocrate Ben Ali. Une démocratie fragile, perfectible mais une démocratie. Jusqu’au coup de to ... Show More
50 m
Jul 2021
Has there been a coup in Tunisia?
What now for Tunisia’s young democracy? Following a day of nationwide protests, Tunisia’s president sacked the PM and suspended parliament. As he put himself in charge, he said this was about getting the country back on track. Problem is: his critics accuse him of leading a coup. ... Show More
14m 47s
Feb 2024
Democracy on the brink in Tunisia?
In 2011, Tunisians took to the streets against the ruling authoritarian regime. Catalysed by social media, the protests would reverberate around the world, spark the Arab Spring and lead to significant democratic reforms in the country. More recently, Tunisia’s democracy has reac ... Show More
19m 36s
Jul 2021
Trouble in Tunisia
Zack, Jenn, and Jen Kirby discuss the political crisis gripping Tunisia following the president’s decision to fire the prime minister and suspend parliament. Tunisia was the big “success story” of the Arab Spring: the one country whose revolution produced a real, albeit rocky, tr ... Show More
41m 44s