Tunisia Launches Crackdown on Corruption with High-Profile Arrests: A New Beginning?

Tunisia has recently seen a surge of activity by the security forces as they have arrested several politicians and a businessman on charges of corruption. Among the individuals arrested were Kamal Latif, a businessman close to former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, former finance minister Khayam al-Turki, and former leader of the Ennahda movement Abdul Hamid Jelassi, who is known for his opposition to the current president. The arrests come amid a push by President Qais Saeed to prosecute corruption and "hold all criminals accountable."

President Saeed had promised to tackle corruption, control its elements, and punish all those who failed to treat the Tunisian people. However, since the exceptional decisions taken by the President on July 25, 2021, none of the files open to the judiciary have been resolved. Saeed's recent speech to security leaders shows that he is still committed to this promise and is critical of unnamed parties that obstruct the course of trials. The move to arrest several high-profile figures for corruption is expected to be seen as a step in the right direction, and it may help to boost the President's popularity, which has already risen in the polls.

Tunisia's political and economic instability has increased the frustration of Tunisians, who have not seen any significant changes at the political level. The tense economic reality has made matters worse, leading to low participation rates in the recent legislative elections. The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings predicts that inflationary pressures will continue in Tunisia due to severe austerity measures that exceed estimates and are mainly based on an increase in tax rates on the one hand, and a significant reduction in subsidies, specifically on energy and electricity on the other. While the arrests for corruption may help to alleviate some of the pressure on the government, Tunisia's economic and political problems are far from over.

In the wake of recent events in Tunisia, including the arrest of numerous high-ranking officials and businessmen on corruption charges, many are questioning whether this is the start of a new era for the country. The Tunisian political writer, Nizar Al-Jilidi, believes that the moves taken by the Tunisian security had pre-signals since President Qais Saeed went to the Guard Committee. The committee has a well-known role in combating corruption, and the president was clear and raised the slogan "The law... the law... the law."

Tunisia has been plagued by corruption for many years, and the recent crackdown is seen by some as a sign of hope for the country's future. Al-Jilidi believes that Tunisia is witnessing the fall of major corruption leaders, including political corruption, considering that the revered names had a role in "destroying the country over the course of ten years." He stressed that "Tunisians have very high ambitions, and perhaps the arrest campaign will make it an opportunity to accomplish what the president did not accomplish on the night of July 25."

It remains to be seen whether the crackdown will continue and whether it will have a lasting impact on the country's political and economic landscape. However, the recent actions taken by the Tunisian government have sent a clear message that corruption will no longer be tolerated, and those who engage in it will be held accountable. The world will be watching closely to see what comes next for Tunisia.