Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet
The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet (Arabic: رباعية الحوار الوطنى التونسى, rubāʿiyyat al-ḥiwār al-waṭanī at-tūnisī) is a group of four organizations that were central in the attempts to build a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011.[1] The quartet was formed in the summer of 2013.[2] On 9 October 2015, the quartet won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize "for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011".[3][4]
Formation
The National Dialogue Quartet comprises the following organizations in Tunisian civil society.[5]
- The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT, Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail)
- The Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA, Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat)
- The Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, La Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme)
- The Tunisian Order of Lawyers (Ordre National des Avocats de Tunisie).
The Tunisian General Labour Union took the first step in forming an alliance of civil societies by approaching the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, considered their historic opponents. The Tunisian Human Rights League and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers later joined.[6]
The Quartet played a crucial role in Tunisia's politics in 2013 after the assassination of two opposition politicians, Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi. There were huge opposition-led protests in the summer of 2013 which threatened the continued existence of the national government at that time. The Quartet participated in talks which occurred at that time between the Islamist Ennahda government and various political parties on the topic of implementing a transition to a democratic constitution, and holding democratic elections for the national government. [7].
In December 2013, a deal was concluded which provided for the Islamist government to step down, and for a caretaker government to take over which would implement elections for President and Parliament to occur in late November 2014. During these discussions, the Quartet played an active role which was considered important to the success of these talks.[7]
References
- ^ Antoine Lerougetel and Johannes Stern (15 October 2013). "Tunisian political parties organize "national dialogue"". Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ Melvin, Don (9 October 2015). "Boost for Arab Spring: Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet wins Nobel Peace Prize". CNN. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ Announcement - The Nobel Peace Prize for 2015
- ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 2015". Nobelprize.org. 9 October 2015.
- ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 2015 - Press Release". Nobelprize.org. 9 October 2015.
- ^ Borger, Julian. "Who are the Tunisian national dialogue quartet?". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
{{cite news}}: zero width space character in|title=at position 22 (help) - ^ a b Nobel Peace Prize Is Awarded to National Dialogue Quartet in Tunisia, By SEWELL CHANOCT. New York Times, October 9, 2015.
