Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet |
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| Part of the aftermath of the Jasmine Revoution | ||||
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The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet visiting Vienna in March of 2016. From left to right Abdessattar Ben Moussa (Tunisian Human Rights League), Noureddhine Allege (Order of Lawyers), Houcine Abbassi (UGTT), Wided Bouchamaoui (UTICA).
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| Date | Formed August 2013-January 2014 | |||
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The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet (in Arabic: الرباعي التونسي للحوار الوطني, in French: Quartet du dialogue national) is a group of four important organizations in Tunisia. They helped bring peace and democracy to Tunisia after the 2011 Jasmine Revolution. This revolution led to big changes in the country's government.
The Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013. At that time, Tunisia was facing a big political problem. This problem had stopped the process of writing a new constitution. Thanks to the Quartet's efforts, a new constitution was created. They also helped the government, led by the Ennahda Movement, to agree on important talks. For their success, the Quartet won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2015.
The four organizations that make up the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet are:
- The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT)
- The Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA)
- The Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH)
- The Tunisian Order of Lawyers
Contents
Tunisian Organizations and Protests
In December 2010, many protests started in Tunisia. These protests began with workers and young people in the Sidi Bouzid area. Soon, people from all parts of the country joined in.
The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) had always been active in politics. They protested against cuts to government support. However, the government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had tried to control them. In the past, big protests like "Black Thursday" in 1978 had happened. But under Ben Ali, it seemed harder for such protests to occur. The Tunisian Human Rights League was one of the few groups allowed to speak out.
Despite the government's control, the UGTT was very large. It had over 800,000 members and 150 offices. Many people saw joining the union as a way to oppose the government. Protests grew steadily before December 2010. For example, in 2006 and 2007, 100,000 Tunisians went on strike.
The UGTT learned from past events, like the 2008 Gafsa Riots. They successfully used their power during the Tunisian Revolution. The UGTT called for strikes in different areas. On January 14, a general strike was called. This showed that the UGTT was a key player in the protests. They became very important in any future discussions.
Why the Quartet Was Formed
After Ben Ali left, the new government, called the Troika, struggled. This government was led by the Islamist party Ennahda. They could not agree on a new constitution in the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia. Ennahda had won only 89 out of 217 seats. So, they had to work with other parties.
However, this alliance was weak. Ennahda was accused of trying to make Tunisia an Islamist state. In March 2012, protests happened because Ennahda suggested making Islam the official religion. They also wanted women to have a "complementary" legal position, not equal rights. People who wanted a secular state worried this would lead to Islamic law (sharia).
Early Efforts for Dialogue
As early as June 2012, the UGTT started calling for talks. They wanted Ennahda and other parties to discuss the constitution. At first, some thought the UGTT was taking sides. But the UGTT said it wanted to be fair.
On June 18, 2012, the UGTT announced a "political initiative" for peace. However, Ennahda did not want to include all parties in the talks. The UGTT also threatened a general strike if Ennahda did not cooperate. This made discussions difficult.
It became clear that Ennahda and other parties needed more help. Other groups from Tunisian society had to join the talks. The UGTT then reached out to three other important organizations. These were the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), the Tunisian Human Rights League, and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
In October 2012, these groups met. The involvement of UTICA was very important. UTICA represents businesses and employers. In January 2013, UTICA and UGTT signed a "Social Contract." This showed that these two groups, one representing workers and the other businesses, could work together. The addition of the Lawyers' Order and the Human Rights League also made the Quartet stronger.
Despite these efforts, some terrible events happened. Political leaders were killed, which threatened the new government.
Political Crisis and Assassinations
The killings of opposition leaders Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi caused new protests. These murders threatened to stop the work of the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia. After Brahmi's death, many opposition parties left the Assembly.
In July 2013, a group called the National Salvation Front organized protests. They demanded that Ennahda step down. Protesters gathered at the Bardo National Museum. They called for the government to "leave."
An Islamist group was believed to be responsible for Brahmi's killing. Many felt the government was not doing enough. The UGTT decided to act. They called a two-day general strike. Thousands of protesters gathered at Bardo Palace. They demanded the government resign. People feared a civil conflict would start. On August 6, the President of the Constituent Assembly stopped all lawmaking.
The Dialogue Process Begins
A third national dialogue meeting finally took place on October 25, 2013. The UGTT-led group wanted a government that was not political. They wanted to avoid the extreme views they saw from Ennahda. Out of 24 parties invited, 21 signed a "roadmap." This roadmap outlined the goals of the meeting:
- To choose a temporary president to guide Tunisia.
- To set rules and a timeline for new elections.
- To create a fair group to manage elections.
- To finish and approve the new constitution.
Two main ideas guided the dialogue. First, Tunisia needed a government of experts, not politicians. Second, all violence and terror threats had to stop immediately. After the assassinations, parties wanted to avoid a full crisis. Houcine Abassi, the head of UGTT, was key to moving things forward. He used the Quartet's power to push parties to agree on the constitution. He even made political representatives stay in the room until decisions were made.
UTICA and UGTT worked together to form a "unity front." They wanted to attract foreign investment to Tunisia. This cooperation between workers and businesses helped the Quartet succeed.
As a result of the dialogue, both parliamentary and presidential elections were planned. In the parliamentary elections on October 26, 2014, Nidaa Tounes won the most seats. Then, on November 24, 2014, Beji Caid Essebsi, the leader of Nidaa Tounes, won the presidential election.
Nobel Peace Prize
On October 9, 2015, the Quartet received the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. They won it "for its important role in building a democracy in Tunisia after the 2011 Jasmine Revolution."
Kaci Kullmann Five, who led the Nobel Committee, said the Quartet "created a peaceful political process when the country was close to civil war." The Nobel Committee hoped Tunisia would be an example for other countries.
Global Reactions to the Award
- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said the award showed the "path of agreement." He said Tunisia must use dialogue despite disagreements.
- U.S. President Barack Obama called the Quartet "an inspiring reminder." He said lasting peace comes when people can shape their own future.
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said the prize was "deserved." It was for working on democracy and believing people deserve better than dictatorship.
- U.N. spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said, "We need a civil society to help us move peace processes forward."
- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the award honored all who started the Arab Spring. He noted that Tunisia avoided the sadness seen elsewhere.
Criticisms of the Quartet
While many praised the Quartet, some union members felt it did not fully support working-class Tunisians. They especially questioned including UTICA. This was at a time when workers were fighting for higher wages. Some felt this went against the UGTT's duty to its members.
Another criticism was that the Quartet encouraged more foreign investment. Some believed Tunisia should have been more independent. For example, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held back a loan of $1.7 billion. This loan was only given after a temporary government was in place. Some Tunisians felt that IMF involvement meant foreign control. They wanted Tunisians to decide how their country was run.
Some historians also argue that the Quartet did not change Tunisia's economic structure enough. Even though the unions were powerful, the economy stayed largely the same. The Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of Tunisia, for example, was not affected by opposition.
The Quartet was also criticized for creating elite groups to manage the transition. Some felt these groups took control "against the will of the people." They saw it as a process led by a few powerful people.
Lasting Impact
The UGTT achieved important victories in the new constitution. This was a big change from the past. Before, the government controlled civil society tightly. The UGTT had limited power to organize workers.
In the 2014 constitution, the UGTT helped secure the right to strike. They also ensured the right to form new unions freely. Before this, strikes that affected important industries were not allowed. So, the National Dialogue led to the most worker-friendly constitution in Tunisia's history. It showed the UGTT's ability to solve a national political problem.
A key part of the 2014 constitution was about transparency. Article 125 created a government body to fight corruption. In June 2015, Prime Minister Habib Essid set up a National Council of Social Dialogue. This council included representatives from the government, UGTT, and UTICA. All three groups praised this setup. They called it a "guarantee of a permanent, regular and comprehensive tripartite dialogue."
A "Pacted Transition"
Political experts have studied how elites in civil society, the government, and the opposition worked together. Some see the Dialogue as an example of a "pacted transition."
A pacted transition happens when a country is becoming a democracy. Different powerful groups agree on a shared path. They agree to avoid violence and work within existing systems. They also agree to calm public unrest. South Africa's transition in the early 1990s is a famous example.
The Tunisian National Dialogue fits this idea. Opposition parties, the ruling government, and civil society groups worked together. They created a common path for the country. However, some scholars point out differences.
Some argue that protests continued during the Dialogue. This shows that the government did not fully stop public unrest. Also, the assassinations and resignations from the Assembly show that elites often disagreed. There was a lot of division in Tunisia between Islamists and secularists. These events make some question if Tunisia's transition was truly "pacted."
See also
In Spanish: Cuarteto para el Diálogo Nacional Tunecino para niños
