Beji Caid Essebsi, the first democratically elected president of Tunisia, died last week at the age of 92. His death, which now stands to change the country’s political landscape, united Tunisians in sadness.
But it also triggered renewed concern over the future stability of Tunisia – the cradle of the Arab Spring – as the nation faces economic and social crises ahead of elections scheduled for later this year.
So far, the political transition has been smooth, with Parliament Speaker Mohamed Ennaceur taking over as president on an interim basis just hours after the announcement of Essebsi’s death.
However, there could still be stormy waters ahead.
The Media Line discussed the issue with Sarah Yerkes, a fellow at Carnegie’s Middle East Program, where her research focuses on Tunisian political, economic, and security developments.
https://themedialine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/073019_Tunisia_sarah_yerkes_intvw.wav [3]