الرئيس التونسي السابق منصف المرزوقي
In a recent statement, former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki expressed support for Algeria’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Marzouki linked the potential return of democracy in Tunisia to the political situation in Egypt, stating, “As the Egyptian revolution was the twin of the Tunisian revolution, the coup that occurred in Tunisia was also a twin of the coup that took place in Egypt.”
Algeria announced the break in relations due to what it termed “provocative and hostile actions” from Abu Dhabi. During his speech directed through social media to the first conference of Egyptian opposition forces, Marzouki acknowledged his lack of fondness for the Algerian regime yet praised its decisive action against the UAE, noting, “I take my hat off to them for expelling and cutting all relations with this evil little state (the UAE). This is what all systems with a minimum of dignity should do.”
Marzouki went on to accuse the UAE of serving the interests of Tel Aviv in the region, asserting that the Emirates, alongside Israel, represents “one of the greatest enemies of the Arab nation.”
Further expanding on his views regarding the intertwined fate of the two countries, he remarked: “The information I received in 2019 indicated that the Egyptian dialect could be heard in the corridors of Carthage more than the Tunisian dialect, as the Egyptian intelligence played a significant role in the downfall of the democratic system in Tunisia.”
He declared that “the victory of democracy in Egypt means the victory of democracy in Tunisia, and the victory of democracy in Tunisia means the victory of democracy in Egypt; our destinies are more intertwined than ever.”
In light of the current political climate, Marzouki urged for the unity of all democratic Arab forces to devise a clear plan for when these regimes inevitably collapse. He warned, “If these regimes fall without clear alternatives, we will face, unfortunately, chaos, and we might long for the era of dictatorship.”
Marzouki has previously called on Tunisians to engage in “civil disobedience” to reclaim their democratic system through demonstrations, sit-ins, and a refusal to pay taxes.