French diplomacy has made a major shift in the Tunisian case, forced to adapt to a chain of events that has expired and is set to false. After the flight of President Ben Ali, France has used for the first time the word "democracy" in describing the aspirations of the Tunisian demonstrators in recent weeks.In a statement released Saturday, January 15 to 14 hours, the Elysee was first sided with those calling for political liberalization: "For several weeks, the people of Tunisia expressed its commitment to democracy. France, that so many ties of friendship bind to Tunisia, it provides strong support.
" The day before, the French presidency had only "take note of the constitutional transition." Saturday, a day behind the U.S., France has asked "the organization of free elections as soon as possible." Notably, the statement from the Elysee doctrine states: "The policy of France is based on two consistent principles: non-interference in internal affairs of a sovereign state, and support for democracy and freedom.
" This notion of "non-interference" - mentioned four times Sunday, the Foreign Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, in an interview with Sunday newspaper - appeared in the official French vocabulary. A signal to other leaders of the Arab world? French officials seem to be seeking, through this concept with blurred, to justify their wait in the days of a bloody police repression in Tunisia.
The phrase sounded the death knell of "interference" dear to Bernard Kouchner, two months after his departure from the Quai d'Orsay. The Elysee wanted, moreover, give pledges to the new Tunisian authorities, announcing that "arrangements" had been taken "to ensure that financial transactions involving assets Tunisian suspects in France are administratively blocked".
This willingness to be attentive to the new government that emerges in Tunis had already transpired in denial - preventive - to grant asylum to President Ben Ali. Sunday, January 16, French officials were still analyzing the springs from a crisis that has taken them by surprise. One certainty was advanced by a source close to the matter: the Tunisian army played a decisive role Friday, January 14, the day when everything changed.
A delegation of senior officers, according to this version, went to see President Ben Ali in the morning, when protesters were massing on Avenue Bourguiba, to serve a double refusal: the refusal of the army be used in the maintenance of order and its rejection of a political hardliner marked by violence.
Official sources in Paris, they also questioned Sunday about the role played by the United States in the departure of President Ben Ali. Washington would have sent the message to the Tunisian leader - through Saudi Arabia, where he found refuge - that it was time to leave power. Such a scenario, if confirmed, raises the question of the degree of cooperation between Paris and Washington.
For the flight of the Tunisian president has taken French officials by surprise. Paris was, however, the analysis that the promises of reforms announced by Ben Ali on January 13 had remounted politically - at least for a time. By hastening the departure of head of state, the United States have sought to avoid the chaos that can benefit current term Islamist advance does one in Paris.
It was better this way, the American perspective, promote an orderly transition. France was on another line: she did not consider the Islamist threat of such magnitude that we should precipitate a regime change. Natalie Nougayrède Article published in the edition of 18.01.11
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