Jasmine revolution 2.0?

23 years after the bloodless "Jasmine putsch" brought Zine Abidine ben Ali to power in Tunisia, he was again brought down with a jasmine revolution. And the country which has had only two presidents for its 45 years of independence suddenly changed three of them overnight. After ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia his prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi was given the post, but despite all the revolutionary chaos the constitutional procedure was followed and the presidential chair was eventually given to the speaker of parliament, Foued Mebazaa.

In the middle of furious protests lasting for almost a month now, Ghannouchi announced the new "national unity" government which should prepare the country for elections in 60 days. The key power ministers of defense and the internal affairs were kept, some guys from the opposition stepped in, and the Ministry of information was suspended. The prime minister also announced all political prisoners will be released.

( Read more... )

x-posted to talk_politics