Tunisia: Specters of Old Regime in Media

As part of its debate series, Tunisia: The Fragile Media Spring, an article French news network Telerama’s website reveals the enduring legacy of Ben-Ali-ism (le benalism) in Tunisian media. Mongi Gharbi, named the new editor-chief of La Presse after many staffers were removed for their their ties to the regime, remarked, “Ben Ali is not the devil! Salaries multiplied ten-fold in 23 years, a social revolution! We have traded freedoms, which could seem like a luxury, for social conquests.” Guy Sitbon, journalist for the French weekly Marianne, adds “Don’t forget that this ex-president, so criticized, delivered peace, social cohesion, the dismantlement of shanty towns and the struggle against extremists.” La Presse journalist, Khaled Tebourbi, reflecting on how institutionalized the press has been and the prospects for purging its ranks notes, “Here, everyone bent… more or less.”