Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali
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NGO report on the Jasmine Revolution and security in Tunisia
How to make the transition from dictatorship to democracy
Reform of the security system is one of the biggest challenges facing Tunisia – one that the country has not yet undertaken. But now the non-governmental organisation "Le Labo' Democratique" (The Democratic Lab) has released the first comprehensive analysis of the Jasmine Revolution and the security challenges faced by the country. Sarah Mersch was at the launch
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First free presidential election in Tunisia
Essebsi must now take action
The election of veteran politician Beji Caid Essebsi as Tunisia's first ever democratically elected president is a vital milestone on the road to the establishment of a true Arab democracy, says Loay Mudhoon
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Six lessons learned from Tunisia's recent elections
"Religion is God's, but democracy belongs to everyone!"
The most recent elections in Tunisia have made it clear that, in spite of numerous setbacks over the last three years, the Arab Spring continues to bear fruit. According to Egyptian journalist and professor Khalil al-Anani, the Tunisian experiment once again proves that Tunisia is a long way ahead of the other Arab countries undergoing transformation
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After the first free parliamentary elections in Tunisia
New horizons or back to square one?
Does the election victory of Nidaa Tounes mean a return to old mechanisms, cronyism and entrenched power structures? Or will the political alliance of convenience succeed in setting a new course for Tunisia's future, fostering socially acceptable compromises and swiftly tackling urgently required economic reforms? By Isabel Schäfer
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Democratic transformation in Tunisia
The model student faces difficult tasks
Tunisia is the only one of the Arab Spring nations that is on the road to democracy. Almost four years after the first protests, which began in the south, this North African country has become a beacon of light for the whole Arab world. But in spite of its successes to date, Tunisia still faces some huge challenges. By Ilyas Saliba
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Interview with the Tunisian documentary filmmaker Sami Tlili
"We've reached a crossroads"
In conversation with Martina Sabra, the Tunisian literary scholar and documentary filmmaker Sami Tlili talks about the political future of the North African country following the recent parliamentary elections, and the democratic prospects three years after the "Jasmine Revolution"
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Parliamentary and presidential elections in Tunisia
The euphoria has evaporated
In the run-up to parliamentary elections on 26 October, more than five million Tunisians registered to vote, considerably more than in 2011. Nevertheless, observers expected voter turnout to be low. Many Tunisians are frustrated by the fact that their situation has hardly improved in the three years since the overthrow of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. By Sarah Mersch in Tunis
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Interview with Tunisian human rights activist Bochra Belhadj Hamida
"Demonised, insulted and threatened"
Bochra Belhadj Hamida is a lawyer and one of the most prominent human and women's rights activists in Tunisia. She is now running for parliament for Nidaa Tounes, a new party that brings together a range of political viewpoints. She discussed the current situation in Tunisia in an interview with Martina Sabra
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Interview with the human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine
Tunisia's democratic awakening under threat
The well-known Tunisian human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine talks to Moncef Slimi about the arduous process of democratic transformation in the motherland of the Arab Spring
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Interview with Hélé Béji
"Ennahda has an unbelievable capacity to adjust"
Hélé Béji is an independent Tunisian writer and literary scholar. She is related to Habib Bourguiba, the founder of the Tunisian republic and its first president, and is part of a rather progressive intellectual scene. Béji has been watching the Islamists closely since they took power two years ago and is one of the few people who considers Ennahda capable of learning and becoming a major democratic people's party. Christina Omlin spoke to her about recent developments in Tunisia
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Interview with Habib Selmi
"Tunisians Are Mature Enough"
The renowned Tunisian author and journalist Habib Selmi talks with Volker Kaminski about his most recent literary work and about the difficult situation of writers and artists in his homeland
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Interview with Amel Grami
Political Stagnation in the Cradle of the Arab Spring
Tunisia's process of democratic transition has been stagnating since late 2012. The Tunisian people are still waiting for their new constitution. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent murder of opposition politician Chokri Belaid. Ute Schaeffer and Loay Mudhoon spoke to the renowned academic Amel Grami about Tunisia's political crisis