The overthrow of dictator of Tunisia Ben Ali crashes, the French government in a dilemma. For years, Paris celebrated the sole ruler of friends, now regrets the praise President Sarkozy - and has to rethink his course in North Africa complete. Misunderstood, she feels, "misinterpreted" and - if you please - it is nigh "shocked" Michèle Alliot-Marie, recently crowned French Foreign Minister, announced in Parliament recently, the role of innocent victim.The occasion: The opposition MPs had questioned the Minister, to their comments on developments in Tunisia. For more on Tuesday of last week - in the midst of the bloody revolt against the rule of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali - Alliot-Marie had offered before the Paris parliament "France's world-renowned 'know-how' of our security forces" for use in Tunis - to Strengthening the Government Ben Ali, the would now have to do something no one.
The questionable offer enraged not only political opponents, even his cabinet colleagues, the Minister went on bustling distance. "This is totally crazy," quoted the Paris "Canard Enchaîné" Prime Minister François Fillon. And President Nicolas Sarkozy reportedly grumbled, "These are statements which weakened France's position." But the real problem is not that strange offer of Foreign Minister.
At issue now is the foreign policy of France in the Maghreb region and the Middle East, so far no one has been publicly questioned. While the U.S. has signaled early support for the protest movement in Tunis, Paris insisted on its policy of regime support. Supposed bulwark against the Terror Behind this is a cool strategy: Ben Ali's rule, the previous reading, is to accept, because the dictator had proven to be a bulwark against terrorism and radical Muslims.
Even socialist Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund claimed once: "Tunisia is a model for developing countries." The Association of French-Investn Africa (CIAN) at the time praised the nation for its solid economy, coupled with political stability. " But France's leadership, the situation in Tunisia, which was under French mandate until 1956, estimated simply wrong.
After the fall of Ben Ali's now the entire North African policy under scrutiny. At first the revolt was followed by a guilty conscience, then the disillusionment and now mental games for a departure from the previous line. Or, in other words, Paris lays "into reverse", it formulated Christian Bouquet, Africa expert and professor of geopolitics at the University of Bordeaux.
The strategist is now clear that "France's original price moves the cart before the wall". Sarkozy praises Tunisia gene still appears to fear the government large that it could be a domino effect that would destabilize the entire region. This would affect any popular uprisings against the incumbent leaders from the Maghreb to the neighbors in the Middle East - including Syria and Egypt.
The voices of those who demand a rethink and more distance from the sole rulers, but are growing louder, even within the ruling party. Rachida Dati, ex-Justice Minister and MEP with family roots in North Africa calls for "a closer relationship with the people there" and a "reflection on our relationships with these countries." One should not reduce these longer on the issues of "combating terrorism and immigration." But that simple change of course is not showing the previous ideological stance of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
To the bitter end of his colleague French President Ben Ali in Tunis had stood to the side, who had denounced the demonstrators as "masked crook" and "hostile elements". At times Sarkozy celebrated the permanent president even as great democrats: "Today occupies the space more freedom in Tunisia," he said during a visit to the country 2008th And: "As I came because to me soar in a country that I visit a friend, a counselor." "Balance of contrasts" Such a rehearsed reading seems difficult to overcome.
Three days after the fall of the regime in Tunis, Sarkozy defended his position. "Ben Ali has done for his people good, especially in business and education," the President sounded loud, "Le Parisien" in front of leading cadres of his party. As an aside, he admitted, Ben Ali, however, have the "freedom to his people set boundaries." A "balance of contrasts," Sarkozy calls it.
His own misjudgment he justifies it, "We have public relations with Tunis, and one can not, whenever there are social movements in a country, the resignation of the leaders call." Since it is probably asking too much to expect a public renunciation Sarkozy from the mistakes of yesterday.
For the big "mea culpa" so he sent his personal adviser Henri Guaino before the microphones. This contrite admitted a "mistake" of France and spoke of "awkwardness and misunderstanding." Commenting on this difficult time left Paris newspaper Liberation "with malicious undertone:" From one day to the total of the assistance for a dictatorship over a subsequent switch to support democratic movement - this is no easy task.
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