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Transcript/Script TUNISIA-WHATS-NEXT
HEADLINE: New Constitution Charts Uncertain Future for Tunisia
TEASER: Draft charter puts President Kais Saied fully in charge — including if things go wrong
PUBLISHED AT: 08/08/2022 at 10:15 pm
BYLINE: Lisa Bryant
DATELINE: TUNIS
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE; Cobus
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP, VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:01
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
EDS: Goes with OCN (sent earlier today)
((INTRO))
[[Tunisia’s new and controversial constitution goes into effect later this month, cementing the vast powers seized a year ago by its author, President Kais Saied — although fewer than three in 10 voters cast their ballots in a July referendum. From Tunis, Lisa Bryant reports the North African country’s future depends on many factors — including whether Tunisians will defend the Arab Spring’s only democracy.]]
((BRYANT TUNISIA WHATS NEXT SHOTS 1)) ((SHOTS: VARIOUS OF TUNIS — INCLUDING NEWSSTAND WITH SAIED ON MAGAZINE COVER - VOA ORIGINAL))
What’s next for Tunisia? Will President Kais Saied deliver on his promises to build jobs, stability and prosperity — and also keep the freedoms won in the country’s 2011 revolution?
((SHOTS — SHOTS OF SAIED & cheering SUPPORTERS — AFP))
Saied says his new constitution, which sharply strengthens presidential powers and weakens legislative and judicial ones, will end years of political gridlock. His supporters hope he’s right.
((Mourad Sassi, Saied supporter — MALE IN FRENCH - VOA ORIGINAL))
“We’ve lived a decade of darkness. We can’t live another decade like that. We’re hoping things will get better.”
((SHOTS — BREAD SELLER & GAS PUMP— VOA ORIGINAL ))
Tunisia’s rocky, post-revolution transition has only gotten rockier in recent months. The war in Ukraine has hiked up prices for bread and energy…
((SHOTS: PLASTIC RECYCLER MOHAMMED WITH CART — VOA ORIGINAL))
..deepening poverty. Mohammed earns about 20 cents filling these bags for recycling.
((MOHAMMED, PLASTICS RECYCLER (EDS: HE DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE HIS LAST NAME)— MALE IN FRENCH — VOA ORIGINAL))
“Before (the revolution) Tunisia was the icon of the Arab world. Of course, it was a police state, but we had work, we lived well. Now, we’re being hit in the stomach.”
((SHOTS: DEMOS — VOA ORIGINAL))
Critics warn Saied’s constitution is a U-turn back to a police state. They point to eroding civil liberties this past year and question the referendum’s results.
((RACHED GHANNOUCHI, ENNAHDHA PARTY Leader — MALE IN ARABIC - VOA ORIGINAL))
“Nobody is able to say no to Kais Saied. He controls the judiciary, the National Assembly, the administration…he rules like a pharaoh.”
((BRYANT TUNISIA WHAT'S NEXT SHOTS 2)) ((SHOTS — FRUIT MARKET - VOA ORIGINAL))
Analysts say Saied’s immediate challenge is delivering on bread-and-butter priorities.
((HAMADI REDISSI, Tunis University Political Science Professor — IN ENGLISH — CUT IN MORE FRUIT MARKET SHOTS — VOA ORIGINAL)) ((PRODUCTIONS: MARKET SHOTS ARE AT END AFTER REDISSI))
“If he improves economic and social conditions, probably he will be reelected. Otherwise, if his only obsession is constitution and election without any economic and social agenda, probably //cut in shots — tunis fruit MARKET// — LINED UP AFTER REDISSI ACT// …the country is going enter into crisis.”
((SHOTS: BUS STOP & DRIED FRUIT STORE WITH PRICES (CLOSE) AT END — VOA ORIGINAL))
Whether Saied can secure another International Monetary Fund loan to shore up the economy -- and sell its required austerity measures — will be crucial.
((SHOTS: UGTT TRADE UNION - VOA ORIGINAL))
Tunisia’s powerful national trade union opposes tough reforms. It threatens to strike next week—possibly foreshadowing more social unrest to come.
((SHOTS — DEMONSTRATORS WITH TUNISIAN SECURITY FORCES PUSHING BACK — VOA ORIGINAL))
How much Saied can count on Tunisia’s security forces is another unknown.
((MONICA MARKS, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, ABU DHABI (IN ENGLISH))
“It seems like most of Tunisia’s police state is still with him. And it seems like many parts of Tunisia’s military are also with him…//SHOTS — MORE SOLDIERS/ AFP))— PRODUCTIONS AFP SHOTS ARE LINED UP AFTER MARKS SOUNDBITE)) … If the Tunisian public spiraled into chaos, where there were protests all over the country threatening the country’s security, the military might make a recalculation.”
((SHOT: VARIOUS OF TUNISIA STREETS — PLEASE END WITH CLOSEUP OF TUNISIA FLAG — VOA ORIGINAL))
And for now, with his vastly expanded powers, analysts say, President Saied has no-one else to blame if things go wrong.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)TUNIS
Embargo DateAugust 8, 2022 22:49 EDT
BylineFrom Tunis, Lisa Bryant reports
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
