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Tunisia's Ben Ali set to extend 20-year rule
Real estate news By Sonia Ounissi
Tue 6 Nov 2007, 12:57 GMT
Supporters of Tunisian President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali predict he will seek another mandate when his latest term ends in 2009, confident the veteran leader will make the Maghreb's most modern state more prosperous. Critics say the continued leadership of the 71-year-old, who celebrates 20 years in power on Wednesday, risks perpetuating an authoritarian system with tight controls on politics and press. Ben Ali has yet to confirm he wants to continue leading the north African country of 10 million. But his backers' mood is reminiscent of their confidence in 2002, when he won the right in a referendum to stay in power for life if he chose to do so.
Streets in Tunis and other cities are decked with Tunisian red flags and portraits of Ben Ali and posters and other slogans declaring he would be the "best choice in 2009". Commentators say Ben Ali can take credit for making Tunisia the healthiest and best educated population in north Africa. The country has north Africa's biggest middle class. More than two-thirds of households own homes. A fifth of the population own a car, up from a 10th two decades ago. Access to schools and basic health care are available to all.
But they say he has much to do to close a democratic deficit that makes the political process a sterile exercise in state control. "Tunisians do not suffer from poverty. ... They suffer from mental hunger due to a lack of initiative and poor freedom of expression and press," said political analyst Slah Jourchi. "The political regime in Tunis had provided social stability during 20 years, adopting a liberal economic policy without harming the interests of Tunisia's large middle class. "But this development is unbalanced, with poor political initiative and superficial multi-party politics", he added.
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