What Do the Presidential Elections Mean for Tunisia’s Future?

A discussion with:
Bassem Bouguerra (via videoconference)
Nonresident Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East
Atlantic Council

and

Jeffrey England
Deputy Regional Director, Middle East & North Africa
National Democratic Institute

Moderated by:
Karim Mezran
Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East
Atlantic Council
 

Tunisians achieved another first since the Arab uprisings began almost four years ago, casting their vote for president on November 23 in free and open elections. The leading candidates—Beji Caid Essebsi, former regime official and leader of Nidaa Tounes, and interim president Moncef Marzouki—will face each other in a runoff at the end of this month. The race reflects the tension between Tunisians’ need for familiar leadership in light of growing insecurity and their aspiration to fulfill the promise of the Jasmine Revolution.

What insights, in terms of voter turnout and civic engagement, does the first presidential round reveal about the country’s outlook? How will the presidential election result determine the formation of the new government? What role is Ennahda poised to play in Tunisia’s future? What opportunities and challenges will the elected leadership face in terms of consensus building and governance?

Please join us to discuss these and other questions with Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Bassem Bouguerra, a security sector reform advocate and recent candidate for Tunisia’s parliament, and Jeffrey England, deputy regional director for Middle East and North Africa programs at the National Democratic Institute, who observed the parliamentary and presidential elections in the last two months.

 

 

DATE:         Thursday, December 11, 2014

TIME:         9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 

A light breakfast will be served. 

LOCATION:     Atlantic Council
1030 15th St NW, 12th floor
Washington, DC 20005

Please click here to RSVP.