Tunisia's main Islamist party, Al Nahda, Wednesday announced it will form the first elected government since the overthrow of the Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali regime in January. Early election results gave the party, which is considered part of the international network of Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated organisations, a commanding lead.
The results are not really surprising because Islamists in Tunisia, like in most Arab countries, are usually the only organised groups on the ground despite the repression they endured under the Bin Ali regime. Nevertheless, the move to form a government in a traditionally secular society is significant and will most probably have a wider impact on those countries that are experiencing similar processes such as Egypt and Libya.
Naturally, there are some concerns over the type of government Al Nahda and other Islamist parties will bring about. Most religious-oriented regimes — in Iran and Sudan for example — have failed their societies and concentrated their efforts on superficial issues, ignoring important ones such as the economy and social development.
Also, there are concerns that the Tunisian party speaks in two languages; one to the international audience saying it will respect the democratic tenets of the Jasmine Revolution and work within a pluralistic system, and another to their supporters where they stick to a more restrictive ideology. Another concern is that Islamists often subscribe to the propagation of democracy until they control the government; then they grab power and alienate everyone else. The Iranian experience is always cited as proof of this widely held perception. The Khomeini revolution was supported by communists and other secular groups, which were later persecuted.
Today, Al Nahda has a chance to prove otherwise. It will be given the benefit of doubt and certainly will be given a chance to prove its mettle.
