Tunisia’s shaky temporary government has made many promises as far as freedom of expression is concerned. To what extent are these promises realistic?

Statements involving openness to media pluralism are certainly important signals, but that was also one of the easiest things to do considering the situation. However, one can start to see some of the effects of this announced openness; one could say that now, after Ben Ali’s departure, Tunisian journalists have been able to regain control over the media. This remains a transitional phase. Now there will be the need for a real journalists’ trade union capable of representing the category, as well as full online freedom that has existed for little over a week and a solid system guaranteeing pluralism of information over the long term.

Compared to other Arab countries what was the position regards to the press in Ben Ali’s Tunisia?

Until the regime fell, Tunisia was one of the most closed countries in the Arab world, with the press totally at the service of the government and the Constitutional Democratic Rally. For local journalists it was extremely difficult to work independently. Should one wish to make a comparison, I would classify Tunisia as being on a par with Syria, a country that also has a strong authoritarian regime and an omnipresent political police force. In other countries, such as for example Egypt, a reporter for an independent paper can do his job, albeit facing a few problems. Here too of course after the 2010 general election, censorship has increased, but I would say that at a regional level the situation in Tunisia has always been exceptional.

How difficult has it been for foreign journalists to report on the ‘Jasmine Revolution’?

When protests started in Tunisia, there was a total reporting blackout imposed by the government, so a lot of news reports and images of the clashes were sent out using Facebook and Twitter, rather like in Iran. Unlike what happens in Iran, however, the western media had fewer problems in getting into the country. A French journalist can enter Tunisia without a visa by pretending to be a tourist and this is impossible in Iran.

And yet, before the current crisis, Tunisia seemed to be totally ignored by the foreign media…

It is true that this is the first time that there is talk of this Tunisia. In “normal” times, a foreign correspondent officially visiting the country would be constantly followed by a plainclothes police officer. That situation seriously affected the work of reporters. Furthermore, those making statements to the foreign press in which they criticized the regime ran enormous personal risks.

The result was that until last December, the image the northern shores of the Mediterranean had was that of a Tunisia boasting women’s emancipation and economic development…

There are some subjects that were used as a smokescreen to hide the real situation in the country, be this women’s emancipation or the government’s fight against Islamic extremism. On the other hand it is true that compared to other countries in the region, the economic situation and women’s rights were, to a certain extent, better. This was however a façade used extensively by the Tunisian government to take gain approval from western countries.

What was it that so suddenly destroyed this façade?

There was a period during which the country experienced an “economic miracle.” This was wellbeing that managed to affect a significant part of society, albeit unequally. There were foreign investments which also meant jobs for locals. This was therefore a positive process, although of course it did not affect political freedom. With the economic crisis instead, all the sacrifices made by a generation that managed to complete education and obtain degrees turned out to have been made in vain. So social unease exploded with open protests that then assumed political characteristics.

Is there really a political alternative capable of replacing Ben Ali’s regime?

The regime managed to divide society into watertight compartments, putting one against the other. Moreover, one must bear in mind that for decades most associations and political parties were banned. For this reason too there are currently no politicians one can refer to. But now something extraordinary has happened, because a number of players from Tunisian civil society, traditionally divided, have entered the arena in the name of a common cause saying no to corruption and demanding freedom.

So, in your opinion, are there all the elements to set the country on the path to democracy?

The country appears to have just been created, and the political void arising from Ben Ali’s flight places Tunisia in a dangerous situation. It is honestly very difficult to predict what might happen over the next two weeks. It is now all up to those Tunisians who took part in the “Jasmine Revolution” to ensure that their battle does not turn into a failure or, even worse, be seized by another political player. The solution of this crisis is in their hands.

Translated by Francesca Simmons