Some People Think The Arab World Is Condemned To Perpetual Dictatorships

I don't. And here's why. For years and years and years, Europe's capitals have been a second home to many Middle Easterners. I've seen it myself in London more than thirty years ago. They have lived in democracies. They know what it is they are missing and they want it.

It's worthwhile to remember that many of the regimes in the Middle East came to power at the point of a barrel on a tank, during the Cold War, and were supported by one or the other of the two adversaries of that era.

Dictatorships are not deeply rooted in this civilization, but are, rather, a modern phenomena, arising after the fall of European empires and incubated by one or the other of the Cold War advocates as a buffer against the other.

Many in the media agree:

Election in Tunisia key to democratic Arab future

"Despite delays and obstructions, Tunisians anticipate October 23rd with immense hope – a culmination of their revolution, of the struggle of generations of women and men of diverse persuasions against despotism and for freedom, equality and dignity.

TUNISIA IS two days from its first elections for a national constituent assembly. Despite delays and obstructions, Tunisians anticipate October 23rd with immense hope – a culmination of their revolution, of the struggle of generations of women and men of diverse persuasions against despotism and for freedom, equality and dignity."

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"In these elections, Ennahda is, according to several opinion polls, set to win a considerable share of the vote. Our popularity is partly due to the sympathy felt by many towards Ennahda’s suffering over three decades under successive dictatorships. However, this sympathy and Ennahda’s record in the struggle for freedom and democracy are no longer sufficient. Immense challenges call for specific and effective programmes. Tunisia needs a new political system, a decisive break with the past.

We have long advocated democracy within the mainstream trend of political Islam, which we feel is the best system to protect against injustice and authoritarianism. It also provides institutions and mechanisms to guarantee personal and public liberties, most importantly the peaceful transfer of power through elections, respect of the popular will, protection of women’s rights, separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, media freedom, and protection of minority rights. All these in no way contradict Islam, but reflect its principles of consultation, justice and accountability as we understand them."

The Islamists will not rule in Tunisia after Sunday’s vote

"About six parties are poised to gather the majority of the available seats. All are considered progressive or centre-left except one: the Islamic party Ennahda. Though the party has pledged to uphold democracy, secular critics suspect that Ennahda has a secret agenda to impose hard-line Islam.

Ennahda leads in the polls with 30 per cent of the vote. Its closest competitors trail at 15 per cent. Prediction polls have been banned since Oct. 1, but even Ennahda’s opponents agree that unless something dramatic occurs, the party will probably finish first.

In the political program Ennahda presented to journalists during the campaign, the party outlined its plans to create a single-house parliamentary system led by the members of whichever party obtained the most seats in the election. The new prime minister would be the only leader of the country, and would have the responsibility to form a new government.

But the Islamic party will not get a majority of the vote in Sunday’s election. Ennahda will probably win, but it will have to consider forming a coalition government. This is no small task, as Ennahda’s opponents have staunchly refused to ally with it.

Meanwhile, the five most important progressive democratic parties have started to privately negotiate their own future coalition. These parties wish to have a presidential system with a legislative assembly instead of a lone parliament. To be implemented, legislation creating such a system (or a parliamentary one) needs to obtain a majority of favourable votes at the Constituent Assembly. This would effectively end the Islamists’ ambitions to one day claim the presidency. This progressive alliance seems to be shaping up to become a common front against Ennahda.

The main reason a presidential system would be of no help for Ennahda is that normally it requires a candidate to obtain the majority of votes on a popular ballot, and Ennahda’s narrow base is not likely to deliver such a high percentage of votes. Such elections often end in a final-round ballot between two candidates, and Ennahda has almost no chance of attaining the 50 per cent required to win.

Meanwhile, the party’s 30-per-cent share of very loyal supporters won’t stand for the compromises that would be necessary to attract undecided voters.

It seems likely that Tunisia will come out of Sunday’s elections with the Islamic party finishing in first place, but not holding the power. Many of the progressive parties’ representatives have noted (off the record) that they have no intention of co-operating with Ennahda; they rather plan to form a coalition in support of a presidential system."

Tunisians Elect A Constituent Assembly Sunday

"Sarah Johnson, assistant director of the Democracy Program at the Carter Center, said “People are excited to have a peaceful credible election and they are very much looking forward to the polls on Sunday,” said Johnson. “There is perhaps a segment of society that is skeptical of the political process…but [assured] that things could be different and has been turning out in large numbers.”


Johnson said despite short notice, the Independent National Elections Commission has made adequate preparations to ensure transparency. And, she said political parties have launched vigorous but peaceful campaigns."

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"Johnson who is also a member of the poll observer delegation said she’s been monitoring the voter registration drive since July, and that all has been calm.

She expressed hope that Tunisians will have confidence in their electoral system’s ability to organize a credible vote."

From Arab Spring to elections: Tunisia steps into a new era

"The previously banned Islamist party, Al Nahda, is leading the opinion polls and is pitching a moderate, pluralist agenda."

And besides that, the electorate seems ready to assume the role of citizens, not subjects:

"As she browses a wall plastered with photos of election candidates, Ameni, a 21-year-old student at Carthage University in Tunis, is preparing to take on a new responsibility. "It's a major turning point," she says. "I feel like a real citizen for the first time."

For Ameni and more than 10 million other Tunisians, the vote in elections this Sunday is their first experience of democratic election. Decades of despotic rule ended in January this year when Tunisia's revolution brought down President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. This small North African country sparked a string of revolutions in the Middle East – and now it is the first to put democracy to the test at the polling booth.

"I never voted. I never imagined that I would," says 62-year-old Mohamad Ali Mahfoudh, a magazine proof-reader in Tunis. "Before, there was no point [voting] as the elections were faked.""

Tunisians in Canada vote in historic election

"It’s a mixture of hope, pride, tears and trepidation for the thousands of Tunisian expatriates who say they’re voting “for real” for the first time in their lives.

The first comprehensive general election emerging from the “Arab Spring” — the pro-democracy protests that swept through the Middle East this year — is underway in Tunisia, the spark of it all.

A long lineup snaked down the corridors of the downtown building holding Tunisia’s consulate in Montreal, one of three voting locales in Canada.

Several voters feared Tunisia’s Islamists would win a large share of the assembly seats.

“The revolution was brought by the young and the poor. I hope that it will move forward and not backward with the Islamists,” said Sahla Allani, 37."

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"Upon seeing early-Thursday pictures on Facebook of huge lines in Paris, and descriptions of the emotional crowd, Manai said she cried.

“Whatever the outcome of the vote, even if the majority don’t represent (my political views), I am still happy,” Manai said, “because it will still mean the Tunisians have made their choice freely.”"

They get it. Especially the young people. Their intolerance of dictatorships, whether secular or Islamist, bodes well for the future.