Arab Spring Over? Tunisians Hand President Almost Complete Power

1 year ago
24

Over 90% of voters backed the new Tunisian constitution, which significantly expands the powers of the president such as appointing the government and judges.

Western media claimed the landslide victory - off the back of just 27.5% voter turnout - marks the end of the Arab Spring movement that began 10 years ago in Tunisia, where long-serving leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown.

The referendum comes exactly one year since President Kais Saied suspended parliament, since when he has effectively ruled by decree, leaving the Washington Post to claim "the fate of the most promising experiment in democratic governance in the Arab world is at stake".

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