The Peculiarities of the Modern Tunisian Party System

Tunisia is one of the most developed countries in the Arab world with an active party and political life. This research analyses the development of political parties and the current state of the party system in Tunisia. It examines the main features of the political system, the history of the formation of the party system, the relationships between the parties and the current alignment of the country’s political forces. The author concludes that Tunisian parties have repeatedly faced crisis situations, one of which is evident at the present time. This crisis can be attributed to a combination of external circumstances, such as the political reforms of president K. Said and the adoption of new legislation that significantly limited the influence of political parties, as well as internal instability within the parties themselves. Following the events of the ‘Arab Spring’, new elements were introduced to Tunisia’s political system and serious changes were made; however, the factors of continuity from the previous regime still retained their influence. Democratic reforms have not been sufficient to improve the standard of living of the country’s citizens or to resolve its difficult economic situation. Currently, several parties are attempting to unite their efforts to advance their demands and protect their interests, while several political forces and movements are declaring their support for the presidential course. The ability to overcome the crisis largely depends on whether the various parties and socio-political movements can reach an agreement. Conversely, the president will need to develop a new, sustainable political model to maintain his position and ensure the stability of the existing state system.