Tunisia: An Ongoing Battle for Democracy · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

This post is part of our special coverage of Tunisia Revolution 2011.
It has been almost a month since former Tunisian president  Zine El Abidine Ben Ali  has fled the country and took refuge in Saudi Arabia, amid a series of protests all over the North African country calling for his departure. For Tunisians, however, the fight is not over yet and getting rid of the dictator does not mean that the dictatorship is gone. Indeed, Tunisians often describe the 23-year-old repressive regime of Ben Ali as an octopus which its head was successfully cut but not its arms.
A protest for the dissolution of the RCD. Photo byWassim Ben Rhouma
Ever since the fall of Ben Ali’s regime, Tunisians have protested for the dissolution of the so hated former ruling party the RCD (Le Rassemblement Constitutionnel Démocratique), which has been associated with corruption, oppression, dictatorship and, viewed as a threat to the transition towards democracy. The RCD is also accused of spreading chaos and destabilizing the country following the end of Ben Ali’s rule. Then, it's quite normal that the Tunisian people has too much contempt for the RCD and yearns for cutting all ties with the past.
Abdallah Belakhoua (@Abdallah__B) calls for Tunisians to stay united and focus on one major goal which is the dissolution of the RCD:
Les vieux clowns de l'RCD veulent nous voir désunis et égoïstes, pour qu'on les oublient, on doit rester UNIS et FORT #tunisie
He adds:
J'apel tous les tun à NE PAS dériver vers les demandes scindés; ils veul nous fair oublier notr prncpal objctif : ENTERRER l'RCD #sidibouzid
Abdrabba Yassine, a Tunisian software engineer, raises a major question: How far are RCD members ready to abandon their privileges in favour of the revolution in Tunisia?
هل من السهل أن يقبل أناس كانت لهم سلطات غير محدودة و مداخيل غير محصورة أن يتخلوا عن تلك المتيازات ببساطة #tunisie #rcd #degage
Although the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Ghannouchi left the the RCD and his political career is not tainted with corruption, he has been criticised and accused of allegiance to Tunisia's most hated party.
Using some harsh words, Alyssa, a Tunisian blogger does not hide her contempt for PM Mohammed Ghannouchi:
Monsieur Mohammed Ghannouchi, je ne vous aime pas, je ne vous ai jamais apprécié et cela ne risque pas de changer. Je ne souhaite pas vous connaitre davantage, dans l’espoir de déceler chez vous quelque vertu cachée, car vous êtes malheureusement affublé d’un défaut majeur : la lâcheté.
Khem (@TunisianCityzen) tweets:
Qui est il Ghannouchi pr donner au peuple tunisien des lecons de démocratie ?? Lui qui a soutenu la dictature pdant 13ans !!!
Houssem HAJLAOUI, a Tunisian blogger  wrote an article entitled: “These are the enemies of the revolution, and the dream of a free Tunisia”.
For him, the RCD and the interim government are among these enemies.
He says:
التجمّع الدستوري الديموقراطي
نعم هو معلّق النشاط و حلّه مسألة وقت ولكن خلاياه السرطانيّة منتشرة في كل مكان. و ما دام الرأي العام في تونس لا يعلم بدقّة تقدّم عمل لجنة التحقيق في الفساد، فمن المنطقي اعتبار التجمّع الدستوري الديموقراطي خطرا قائما على الثّورة و على مستقبل المشروع الديموقراطي في تونس
He adds:
This post is part of our special coverage of Tunisia Revolution 2011.