No, the title (translation: the Green) isn't an abbreviation of my surname, but the nickname given to Tunisia. Hope that settles country moniker trivia for you. On that note, Happy Bastille Day to earthlings that did their utmost to ruin North Africa and of course shower once a week (shout-out to atrocious stereotypes that still fester online), joking aside, it's a great day for the nation of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
A pivotal moment in Tunisian democracy, the upcoming referendum on a draft constitution will say a lot about how far it has come since the 2014 uprising. Foremost, can we just applaud this beacon of hope in the Arab world for becoming the first Arab nation to have a female leader, Najla Bouden (appointed PM October 11, 2021 - who said a geologist could not rise to power? This momentous occasion can only be topped if a female is elected at the ballot box, but for now this is progress. Still, the Arab world is more advanced than the US when it comes to female empowerment. Psst! Dear Arab earthlings, mention this to US Customs officials when they question you for being a terrorist.
Hat's off to Tunisia for including church and state separation in this draft, funny how an Arab nation is all about religion being excluded when you have the US Supreme Court allowing religious nut jobs from 13 states (led by the small government bastion of Texas, that loves to use tax dollars to suppress women's liberty) to meddle in a woman's personal choice. Tickle me pink, feminism thrives in Tunisia and dies in 26% of the US.
Where this referendum gets icky is the back to the future moment, it's being proposed to go away from a semi-Presidential parliamentary system to one where the President will once again wield too much authority. They can run for two 5-year terms, and potentially continue on if they find the state to be in danger. Reading between the lines: another way of spelling out autocracy. Then it gets into a gray area, some will argue introducing new council chambers is a positive step and only two-thirds are needed to pass a no-confidence motion in the government as opposed to the current absolute majority. Some might say this smells of a power-stacking exercise for a future autocratic leader.
However, it still keeps important measures that protect liberties, including the right for peaceful gatherings, unions to organize (army, customs, judges, police are barred from striking), and free speech. This draft still needs tinkering, but this is a sign that the country is a democratic experiment and one that hopefully can keep on its open society trajectory. Tunisia is on the precipice, a nearly year-long protest is till taking place, the issue at core is democracy, basically are you for the secular variety or one that allows Islam to play a key role. It looks like most supporting the draft constitution are from the latter. Tunisia will quickly lose its credentials if they give in to more Presidential power. A free Tunisia will be a beacon for North Africa and will have flow on effect all over the Middle East, the world cannot allow Saudi values to infiltrate this great nation.
The Constitutional Referendum is on July 25. On that day, I will, you will, we will all be Tunisian. Happy voting to the earthlings that chant for the Eagles of Carthage (Tunisia national football team).
