Tunisians are rallying around Abir Moussi, a demagogue

  • 📰 TheEconomist
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 39 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 19%
  • Publisher: 92%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

A former official in the deposed President Ben Ali's party, Ms Moussi surrounds herself with symbols of the past. She forgets to mention the repression Tunisians endured

Since winning a seat in parliament in 2019, Ms Moussi has made a name for herself with her populist outbursts. She claims the revolution was a “plot” by foreign countries—in the past it was “Europeans, Americans and Zionists”, now it is Qatar and Turkey. When not spouting conspiracy theories, she is channelling Tunisians’ nostalgia for the relative order and stability of the Ben Ali era. That has made her quite popular.

the most confrontational party in parliament. Last year its members unbolted the speaker’s chair and held it aloft during a protest. The journalists’ union has called for a boycott of Ms Moussi over what it calls her “fascist practices”. This came after she claimed to have seen a reporter engaging in sexual activities with a parliamentary staff member.

Her rhetoric often sounds like that used by anti-Islamist regimes in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Her view of democracy appears similar, too. She wants to strengthen the presidency and security forces, and ban Ennahda. “I don't think she's ever specifically said she opposes democracy," says Youssef Cherif of the Columbia Global Centre, a research institute in Tunis.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 6. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

The Global House Price Boom Could Haunt the Recovery From Covid-19House prices around the world have rallied through the economic turmoil. Growing leverage and decreasing affordability raise both financial and political risks. Its not that complicated. Rates will be hiked. Yellen said so herself (and then didn't); Guess nobody remembers 2007/2008.
Source: WSJ - 🏆 98. / 63 Read more »

Texas Capitol staffer alleges being drugged by lobbyist“I am disgusted this sort of predatory behavior is still taking place in and around our Capitol,” one lawmaker said. holy f*ck This is just how Republicans do business If the Texas lobbyists are passing out joints, send some my way. No skunkweed.
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »

5 Things You Should Do First Thing In The Morning To Be Happier All DayIf you roll out of bed feeling tired or stressed, these a.m. habits can help you turn your mood around.
Source: HuffPostWomen - 🏆 27. / 68 Read more »

Oakland A's pitcher Jesus Luzardo breaks finger while playing a video gameHe smashed the pinkie on his throwing hand, and still went out and tossed three innings on Saturday. Lol What a genius!!!!!
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »