Tunisia’s democratic dream

Tunisia’s democratic experiment faces a severe crisis as President Kais Saied consolidates power, effectively dismantling the institutions established after the 2011 revolution. The country grapples with a nosediving economy, widespread unemployment, and increasing political repression, leading many citizens to risk their lives attempting to migrate to Europe. Activists, journalists, and political opponents face arbitrary arrests, while inflammatory rhetoric from the government has triggered violence against sub-Saharan migrants. Despite the initial hope sparked by the revolution, the current climate is defined by fear and a lack of substantive economic reform. While opposition figures like Nabil Haji warn of a return to dictatorship, the public remains largely focused on daily survival amidst rising costs of living, with little sign of a new popular uprising to challenge the regime's authoritarian trajectory.