Secolo d'Italia

23 November 2011 

-- Will growing political stability in Tunisia be able to block or at least mitigate immigration?

Italy and Europe need democratic stability in the Maghreb. This will require greater economic-commercial relations and political collaboration in order to relaunch development in the region. It is important to remember that both GDP and life expectancy have gone up in Tunisia in recent years, while the birth rate and emigration levels have gone down.

-- Having recently been to Tunisia on a preliminary visit as head of the EOM, what were your impressions of the political and social situation there?

There is a great civic enthusiasm in Tunisian society. People are working feverishly to finalize preparations for the first democratic elections, between the 30,000 election officials, around 8,000 polling stations, and the prior registration of voters. The election law envisions male-female alternating lists and a quota for those under the age of 30. Among other things, voting will be open for the first time to Tunisians living abroad, with 80 polling stations in Italy. All the parties want above everything to see a start of the democratic phase of their country through elections.

-- Will recent conflicts and aggressions at the border/sea have an impact on the mood surrounding the elections?

All of the necessary political and organizational premises for free and just elections in Tunisia on 23 October are in place. Unfortunately, there are both internal and external forces set on avoiding the institutionalization of the revolution, because they have an interest in the instability of the country or in the recuperation of power by the clients of the Ben Ali regime.

-- From your contact with local authorities, what are their expectations?

The richness of the election program and the extraordinary personal stories of the political protagonists (many of whom have experienced years and years of exile or imprisonment) bear witness to the civil passion that is the real richness of the spring of the youth. Not only that – Morocco will vote on November 25 and Egypt later this autumn. In short, Tunisia is the trailblazer of liberty in the region.

-- View on the outcome of the vote?

Polling is so impractical in the current Tunisian society that the independent electoral commission has prohibited poll-taking. Predictions are impossible. The Islamic-inspired party and the secular parties offer diverging visions of Tunisia, but they will be obliged to form a constructive synthesis around the constitution, because no party will have sufficient numbers to go it alone. This is very positive.

-- Italy-Tunisia relations after the vote?

During his speech this Wednesday at the United Nations, President Obama cited the next Tunisian elections as a first step for the consolidation of the North African area after the 'Arab Spring'. For our part, we hope the Mediterranean area returns to the role that awaits it. After the end of the Cold War, Europe's primary focus was to look to the East; in that way, we were faced with an imbalance of European politics not only towards the north, but also towards the countries formerly belonging to the Warsaw Pact. Now another wall is falling, between the northern and southern shores of 'Mare Nostrum' (the Mediterranean), and the integration of these people that face each other will depend on the role of the Maghreb states within large international organizations, including the OSCE. A happy outcome of the election process in Tunisia could constitute a first step in that direction.