On May 6, Tunisia held its first municipal elections since the 2011 revolution, and the first free and fair local elections in the country’s history, widely hoped to usher in more legitimate and transparent local authorities with greater control over regional development. Yet these potentially pivotal elections saw low turnout amid ongoing national dissatisfaction with traditional political parties, the government’s economic austerity policies, stalled anti-corruption and decentralization efforts, and partisan infighting. Have the elections positioned Tunisia to make progress on such issues, and what do they indicate about voters’ attitudes toward current policies?
Four experts examine what implications the elections may have for political parties, security forces, decentralization, and Tunisia’s democratic transition.
Comments
Comment Policy
Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, or other inappropriate material will be removed. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, steps will be taken to block users who violate any of the posting standards, terms of use, privacy policies, or any other policies governing this site. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.