WASHINGTON / TUNISIA ESSEBSI

Tunisia's Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi shares his views on the country's transition process, upcoming elections and the challenging road ahead. WORLD BANK

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:22
• Production Date: 4 October 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: WORLD BANK
• Subject Topical: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; FINANCING; ECONOMICS; ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
• Geographic Subject: TUNISIA
• MAMS Id: U111004c

Description

STORY: WASHINGTON / TUNISIA ESSEBSI
TRT: 2.22
SOURCE: WORLD BANK
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 4 OCTOBER 2011, WASHINGTON DC

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, press conference
2. Wide shot, audience
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Béji Caïd Essebsi, Prime Minister, Tunisia:
“At present everyone is asking if these elections will lead to a majority party which is Islamic and will control the country through Islam. I don’t believe so. This is excluded. The Nahda party is just one among others. Of course it’s important, but it’s one among others. Until now it was the only organized party that revolted against the previous government in power and it was heavily sanctioned and people were supporting it only because it was against the government.”
4. Med shot, audience
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Béji Caïd Essebsi, Prime Minister, Tunisia:
“Our experiment is important for us and also for other countries and I hope that it will inspire others and that it will succeed. If it doesn’t, it will be a shame for Tunisia and a shame for the others.”
6. Close up, cameraman
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Béji Caïd Essebsi, Prime Minister, Tunisia:
“Our responsibility is to succeed in this transition, for us and for the rest of the Arab and Muslim world because what others have referred to as the Arab spring started in Tunisia but it won’t be the Arab spring if it stays only in Tunisia. The winds of liberty don’t respect borders. We are already hearing echoes everywhere and next door in Libya, which is an internal problem not an international one.”
8. Med shot, audience
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Béji Caïd Essebsi, Prime Minister, Tunisia:
“As long as they don’t liberate women, society will be lacking and 50 percent inactive. I think that things are evolving though, because in Saudi Arabic the women now have right to vote, perhaps not to drive, but they can vote!”
10. Med shot, audience standing and clapping

Storyline

In January 2011 Tunisians gathered in unprecedented popular protests which resulted in new leadership and a changing political landscape. Elections are scheduled for October.

Speaking at the World Bank in Washington, Tunisian Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi said he did not expect those elections to lead to an Islamic regime, as some had feared.

“At present everyone is asking if these elections will lead to a majority party which is Islamic and will control the country through Islam. I don’t believe so. This is excluded,” said Minister Essebsi, adding that Tunisia’s Islamic “Nahda” party was just one among others.
“Of course it’s important, but it’s one among others. Until now it was the only organized party that revolted against the previous government in power and it was heavily sanctioned and people were supporting it only because it was against the government.”

Minister Essebsi said it was important that upcoming elections in his country be free and fair, not only for Tunisia but for the entire region.

“Our experiment is important for us and also for other countries and I hope that it will inspire others and that it will succeed. If it doesn’t, it will be a shame for Tunisia and a shame for the others,” he said.

Speaking to a full house of World Bank staff and international journalists, Essebsi said the Arab spring started in Tunisia, but was fast spreading next door and across the region.

“Our responsibility is to succeed in this transition, for us and for the rest of the Arab and Muslim world because what others have referred to as the Arab spring started in Tunisia but it won’t be the Arab spring if it stays only in Tunisia. The winds of liberty don’t respect borders. We are already hearing echoes everywhere and next door in Libya, which is an internal problem not an international one,” he said.

Essebsi said he hoped Tunisia’s and other regional revolutions would do more to liberate women and allow them to be active members of society.

“As long as they don’t liberate women, society will be lacking and 50 percent inactive. I think that things are evolving though, because in Saudi Arabia the women now have the right to vote, perhaps not to drive, but they can vote!”