In 2011, Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution sparked a wave of mass demonstrations throughout the region. Tunisia was the first democracy to emerge from what became known as the Arab Spring.

Just over a decade later, after the adoption of a new constitution headed by President Kais Saied, it is poised to be the last to fall. 

The new constitution effectively grants President Saied a monopoly on power and bolsters Islam as a priority of the state.   

The constitution was approved by referendum on July 25th, passing with 95% approval, by only 30.5 percent of Tunisia’s eligible voting population. 

Supporters of President Saied see a strong leader as their only hope of achieving political and economic stability; Opponents of the new constitution boycotted the referendum as they deem Saied’s constitution and seizing of power illegitimate.

The Takeaway was joined by Sharan Grewal, Assistant Professor of Government at the College of William and Mary and a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution, to discuss Tunisia’s new constitution and what this means for the future of democracy in the North-African region.