The Christian Science Monitor Daily for July 27, 2021
When Tunisia’s populist president, Kais Saied, a former constitutional law professor, seized emergency powers Sunday, it prompted fears among Tunisian democrats and Arab activists for the last, best hope for political freedoms in the region. But among many Tunisians, patience with democracy had been wearing thin, amid a severe economic downturn, government paralysis, and lingering suspicions of corruption. A dramatic new surge in the pandemic represented a breaking point, pushing many to look for solutions at any cost. For still others, Mr. Saied’s power grab was cause for relief and even...