A new constitution threatens democracy
In July 2022, the new Tunisian Constitution was adopted by referendum by a large majority (94.6%), putting an end to the Second Republic instituted by the 2014 Constitution. Opponents of this Constitution, which jeopardizes the fledgling democracy, find this result hardly legitimate since there was a low turnout. Of the nearly 9.3 million voters, only 2.746 million went to the polls, or 30.5% of them.
The new Constitution restores central power to the Head of State, whereas the Constituents elected after the October 2011 revolution had established a parliamentary system with an Assembly and a President of the Republic accountable to the elected representatives.
Under the new Constitution, the President cannot be removed from office. He chooses the head of government and ministers, and can dismiss them as he sees fit. Legislative texts submitted to Parliament take precedence. Thus, the new Constitution offers few checks and balances, threatening human rights and fundamental freedoms.
AFP reported that "Kaïs Saïed, 64, sees this overhaul as an extension of the 'course correction' begun on July 25, 2021 when, citing political-economic deadlocks, he dismissed his Prime Minister and froze Parliament before dissolving it in March. "
This Constitution also comes against a catastrophic economic and social backdrop for Tunisia, with high unemployment, low purchasing power and rising poverty.
With over 89% of the vote, Kaïs Saïed's re-election in October 2024 with a very low turnout confirms this threatening drift for democracy. "The legitimacy of the election is necessarily tainted when candidates who could overshadow Mr. Saïed have been systematically sidelined," commented Tunisian political analyst Hatem Nafti for AFP.
Launch of the 2023-2025 Development Plan
The 2023-2025 Development Plan follows on from the 2016-2020 Development Plan, which failed to deliver on its promises: no infrastructure projects as promised, import and export targets not met, high unemployment...
To implement this new Plan during 2022, Economy Minister Samir Saïed wanted to evaluate the previous plan, so as not to repeat the same mistakes. The preliminary phase was launched on January 10, 2022. On the ilBoursa.com website, the Minister declared that "this plan is of particular importance given the national stakes, notably in terms of restoring the pace of growth, creating new job opportunities and boosting development in the interior regions. "
In mid-September 2022, a first version of the Plan was proposed, with the aim of its final presentation before the publication of the 2023 Finance Law.
This Plan is also framed by a 2035 strategic vision, designed by the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies (Ites).
The aim of these various projects is to improve Tunisia's overall economic context.
The Tunis Declaration at TICAD 8
The eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), organized by Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency), was held in Tunis, the country's capital, in August 2022. TICAD 8 resulted in the Tunis Declaration.
"It] confirms the importance of investment in human capital, as well as the importance of multilateralism. [The Tunis Declaration] is built around three pillars: structural transformation for sustainable economic growth and development; building a resilient society; and ensuring lasting peace and stability. Based on these three pillars: economy, society, peace and stability, the Japanese government has announced its contributions to Africa, which include 70 initiatives and actions. Many of these will be implemented by Jica in the years to come", explained Jica representative Mr. Ueno Shubei in an interview. Ueno Shubei in an interview published on the website www.lapress.tn.
While this year's edition went well according to the President of Tunisia, notably with the strengthening of the mechanism for recovering the money stolen under the Ben Ali regime by his family and entourage, the country failed to convince Japan as an African state of foreign investment.
However, at the end of two days of meetings between Japan and African countries, the country of the rising sun "promised Tunisia $100 million in aid, which will only be released once an agreement has been reached with the IMF."
Negotiations with the IMF
Tunisia's economic crisis has been exacerbated by the global pandemic of 2020 and the war in Ukraine. The country is dependent on wheat imports, and basic necessities are becoming increasingly expensive. This crisis mainly affects the middle and lower classes. In 2022, the unemployment rate was 18.4% nationwide and 42% among young people, falling to 16.4% in 2023. The country is facing a brain drain, with young graduates leaving the country to find work. Added to this is the decline in tourism and government instability.
Over-indebted, Tunisia is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a $4 billion loan. To do so, the government had to put together a solid file to present to the IMF. According to Nasreddine Nsibi, government spokesman and Minister of Vocational Training and Employment, the file was due to reach the stage of final approval by the IMF's technical staff in October 2022. One of the last reforms included in this dossier concerns the 5% increase in public sector wages until at least 2025, following negotiations and an agreement signed between the Bouden government and the UGTT, the Tunisian General Labor Union. The latter has undertaken not to demand any further increases for three years. This fund raising would represent an economic reprieve for Tunisia.
