Bobby Ghosh, Columnist

The First and Now the Last Best Hope of the Arab Spring Is At Risk

Tunisia’s president has taken on near dictatorial powers. Democracy’s survival is in the hands of the largest labor union and the military.

July 27, 2021 at 5:00 AM UTC

By Bobby Ghosh

Bobby Ghosh is a senior editor in the digital weekend team. Previously, he was a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion, where he wrote mostly about international affairs and culture.

Supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied.
Photographer: FETHI BELAID/AFP

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Amid Tunisia’s political upheaval, it is easy to hear echoes of the events in Egypt eight years ago. In the summer of 2013, widespread protests against an unpopular Islamist government allowed General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to take power in what amounted to a coup.

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied may not wear military fatigues, but he’s doing a pretty good Sisi impression nonetheless: Taking advantage of demonstrations against an unpopular Islamist-backed government, he has suspended the country’s elected parliament and sacked the prime minister, effectively assuming dictatorial authority over the country.