By His Excellency, Karim Ben Becher, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia.
Four years after the peaceful jasmine revolution, Tunisia has developed as an example of a peaceful democratic transition and political compromise with a new progressive Constitution and free and fair well-organized legislative and presidential elections in 2014.
An unprecedented political transition to Democracy was triggered starting from January 2011, led by transitional governing institutions, political actors and civil society representatives who agreed on a broad framework for a participatory and inclusive democratic transition process, including elections for a National Constituent Assembly (NCA) in October 2011, mandated to draft and adopt a new democratic Constitution. In a second step, transitional Authorities have organised in the period of October-December 2014, new free general elections based on the provisions of the new Constitution.This development led observers to talk about a ‘Tunisian exception’.
Political process
At first, an independent election commission organized free multi-party elections on October 23th, 2011, of the members of the National Constituent Assembly, NCA, that was tasked to draft a new constitution. The NCA appointed also an interim Government and an interim president.
Starting from 2013 a National Dialogue process was developed serving as a framework for free dialogue between political actors with the facilitation of a quartet of civil society organizations. This process became an important institution for resolving differences, and making compromise agreements at first, about key issues in the constitution being discussed inside the National Constituent Assembly (NCA).
The NCA adopted finally a new Constitution on January 26th 2014, which was regarded by the international community as the most progressive in the region, setting the rules for a fully democratic regime, providing for a democratic civil nation, the freedom of conscience and belief and establishing gender equality.
In order to bring political, social and economic stability to the country, both ruling and opposition parties agreed in the framework of the National Dialogue institution to designate Mehdi Jomaa as an interim Prime Minister. A new caretaker cabinet of technocrats was approved by the NCA, on 29 January 2014, with the task to maintain security, engineer economic reforms and organise legislative and presidential elections by the end of the year in accordance with the provisions of the new constitution.
Observers were unanimous to consider that the National Dialogue contributed significantly to the success of the democratic process in Tunisia, getting the country out of a political deadlock, and creating a compromise between electoral and consensus legitimacies. It is regarded, finally, as a real commitment by all political parties involved to look for common solutions through negotiation and mediation
The contribution of the Mehdi Jomaa Government to the country’s transition into democracy was crucial. By organising free and fair legislative elections in October 26th 2015 and then, the presidential elections in two rounds in November 23rd and December 21st , 2014, through an Independent High Authority for Elections, the country has nowadays a new Parliament and President, thus becoming the only country in the region to have peacefully achieved a democratic transition process since the beginning of the Arab Spring in 2011. It is regarded as a unique example of free elections, free press and active civil society.
On February 5th, 2015, Tunisia’s newly elected ‘Assembly of the Representatives of the People’ approved a coalition government headed by the Head of Government Habib Essid. This new government proved that Tunisia is stepping toward pluralism and stability in the framework of the second republic. The government had to push through a broad range of economic reforms, preserve the security conditions and continue the fight against extremism and terrorism.
The success of the democratic transition and continued economic reforms are expected to boost economic growth and favour social stability. The prospects for partnership and investment in Tunisiaare very positive. Big investment projects in infrastructure and energy were presented during the international conference “Invest in Tunisia, a start-up democracy”, held in Tunis in September 2014.
Bilateral relations with the Netherlands
Bilateral relations with the Netherlands have grown steadily since the outbreak of the Yasmine revolution in Tunisia resulting in closer cooperation relations in the context of the democratic transition process, the consolidation of capabilities and reforms to meet the development challenges ahead such as unemployment, regional development and boosting economic growth.
High level visits were organised in order to give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations, such as the visit of the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mongi Hamdi, to the Hague in September 2014 and the recent visit of Mrs Liliane Ploumen, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in Tunisia with a view to strengthening cooperation relations, economic exchanges and promoting direct investment and partnership.
There are much room to further develop economic exchange, trade relations, partnership and investment with the Netherlands. Tunisian and Dutch companies should be encouraged to make additional efforts in this regard. There are opportunities particularly in the agricultural sector, horticulture and food products processing, infrastructure and energy sectors .
The “Cartago” exhibition organised in the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, November, 27th2014-10 May 2015 , is a landmark in the bilateral relations. It is being held for the first time in the Netherlands and presents the history and archaeological treasures of the ancient Carthage.
The exhibition presents an overview of the rich cultural heritage of Tunisia dating back to ancient times, and represents a basic factor for the promotion of Tunisia as a leading tourist destination at the south shore of the Mediterranean with sunny beaches, a rich history and typical hotel resorts with thalasso, and world class golfing sites.
We are confident that more and more Dutch tourists will enjoy their stay in Tunisia thanks to its rich cultural heritage, its natural beauty and its numerous tourist attractions.
