LEAD BY EXAMPLE: TUNISIA REACTS TO AMERICAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001144 SIPDIS NEA/MAG (NARDI/STEWART); DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN) LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS SUBJECT: LEAD BY EXAMPLE: TUNISIA REACTS TO AMERICAN ELECTIONS Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) From GOT officials to the man on the street, the Tunisian reaction to Barak Obama's win in the presidential elections is overwhelmingly positive. Tunisians seem to be taking this exercise in political participation to heart, with Embassy officials hearing many variations of how Tunisia has much to learn, and can benefit from, the American democratic example. Many have expressed hope for increased democracy promotion and a plan to end the conflict in Iraq from the new administration. End Summary. -------------- Headlines Embrace Change -------------- ¶2. (C) Many Tunisians seem to be living vicariously through the American presidential elections, possibly because their own legislative and presidential elections in 2009 promise to be less than free and fair. Several Embassy contacts, including one former head of an opposition party, have said as much. The high interest in the American electoral process was evidenced by the roughly 1,000 people who attended the Embassy's Elections Night party on November 4th. There was a sizeable crowd present though the night and into the next morning, as people watched the results come in on several screens. The Elections Event featured a mock election, where Tunisian guests could vote for McCain, Obama, or a write-in candidate. The exercise was so popular, the Embassy ran out of ballots. ¶3. (C) The Tunisian media and Embassy contacts were clearly interested in the American presidential candidates themselves, but their interest spilled over into the specifics of the American electoral process as well. For months, the Ambassador and Embassy officers have been fielding questions on the ins and outs of the caucus system, primaries, and how states are assigned representatives. During the Elections Night event itself, Embassy officers were besieged by people wanted to know more about the Electoral College, referenda, and the mechanics of registering and voting. As the results came in, Tunisians had even more questions about the repercussions of states voting one way or another and what it meant to be filibuster-proof in the Senate. ¶4. (C/NF) Several prominent opposition politicians attended the Elections Night event. They commented that the American elections should serve as an example for less democratic countries (in an oblique reference to their own country, where President Ben Ali will celebrate 21 years in power on November 7th). Some said simply, "Inshallah, one day we will have a democratic process like this in Tunisia." President Ben Ali released an official statement congratulating president-elect Obama and hoping for continued cooperation on "security, stability, and prosperity." Comments left in the Elections Event guest book were somewhat more effusive, declaring "long live America" and "what a lesson, real democracy." Longtime Embassy contact journalist Ridha Kefi (protect) was somewhat more thoughtful, calling the elections a, "lesson in courage, humility, generosity, and true patriotism." ¶5. (C) As for the results of the elections themselves, the Tunisian reaction was overwhelmingly positive. The crowd at the Elections Night event cheered whenever a state was called for Obama. Headlines on November 5th ranged from "Obama: Master of the World" to "The American Dream," and "Americans Vote For Change." Even the Arabic-daily Ash Shourouq, which rarely has anything positive to say about America or Americans, featured a front page photo of a smiling Barak Obama. Many publications also carried features on political participation such as the French-daily Le Temps story on the "small lessons of a great democracy" or the ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally's French-daily Le Renouveau's article on the record-breaking number of American voters. Several embassy contacts also expressed a hope for increased democracy promotion and a plan to end the conflict in Iraq from the new administration. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) There's a lot of truth to the saying, "seeing is believing." The American elections were closely followed by international media outlets, including pan-Arab satellite television, thus Tunisians could see for themselves that Obama won many states by only a few percentage points, showcasing that each vote does count. The elections themselves demonstrated that the governed have the power to choose. If nothing else, this up close and personal look at Americans exercising their right to vote has given Tunisians a lot to think about. Tunisians have witnessed the impact of free and fair elections. Ideally, during their own elections roughly a year from now, at least some of the lessons they learned will be applied. End Comment. GODEC