1 - The recent protests in Tunisia was not “a thunder in a cloudless sky”. It was a political and economic upheaval and a glimpse of the inherent confrontations and contradictions of capitalism in Tunisia. If we limit ourselves to analysis of the events at the surface in the society we should be surprised. As though an extraordinary phenomenon has occurred. Reality, however is something else. It is simple. Tunisia is a capitalist society. The struggle of worker and capital, like any other capitalist society, is the main conflict within the society. Hidden or open, this struggle is the permanent reality of the society. The present uprising can only be comprehended and explained within the realm of this framework.
2 - These are protests against poverty, destitution, unemployment, dictatorship, lack of political and civil rights, and inequality. They are the just struggles of deprived right-less and poor people. People want their share of life. They desire freedom and prosperity. Every time you hear a report from Tunisia you can actually hear the scream for justice and rights. It feels your heart with hope. But, the masses of workers and people are not represented politically in the society. There is no political Worker-communist and liberation Party in the society to raise the banner of freedom, equality and prosperity. This is, in-fact, the limitation of the recent protests. Without Worker-communist rank and movement in the power struggle for the future political power in Tunisia, these protests will either be suppressed or turned into changes that will not last long. So long as the political and economic power of the bourgeoisie is not abolished, any change or reform will be temporary and shaky.
3 - This movement, in its first phase, has managed to force the regime of capital to retreat and made its head of state to flee. However, the ruling class in Tunisia has quickly reorganized itself and is trying to end the state crisis. The Prime Minister has substituted the President. Some government agencies and establishments have reshuffled their officials to control the situation. The current “unity” government is yet the continuation of the old government of dictatorship and despotism of capital in a different guise. The strategic aim, however, is the preservation of the pillars of the ruling class, its suppressive forces and the power of the capitalist class. The aim is to prevent any detrimental blow to the system. The present composition of the ruling class is very unstable. The continuation of street protests and the “danger” of the government being overthrown will impose another composition and reshuffle of the government. We will witness more retreats. People’s movement can only achieve its demands if it topples the provisional government or any other composition within the ruling class.
4 - The advancement of these protests depends on not compromising or being content with minuet changes or empty promises of the new coalition government in the country. The key to progression of the protest movement is to expand the banner of saying “NO” to the current situation and any composition that is loyal to the political and class interests of the ruling capitalist class. The complete overthrow of the ruling state must be the main objective of the protests. Other demands such as trial of the leaders of the government and its suppressive organs and freezing of their assets which all belong to the people must be on top of the agenda. Emphasis on clear and undisputed demands such as unconditional political freedom, freedom of assembly, Parties, strike, unemployment benefit, subsidies for food and housing, and abolition of all laws that negate equality and rights of the citizens are all vital.
The main issue is how to shape the future government in Tunisia. Workers and people should not let any government to be built from above. Formation of peoples’ Councils in factories and communities is the basis of the future rule of workers and the toiling people of Tunisia. These Councils must present themselves as the alternative power and the organizers of the political power in Tunisia. The alternative power cannot be formed through the formal voting system in Tunisia. Workers’ power must be created. Power should be taken away from the yoke of bourgeoisie and its organs in every street and region.
5 - The victory of this movement depends on the independent presence of working class with its socialist banner. The present situation has provided favorable grounds for the radical and socialist tendency of the working class. The practical leaders of the working class, activists and communists of the movement must be in the forefront of the protests. They must build their class rule. What is more important, they must strive to build a Worker-communist Party. Workers, in a battle for gaining political power, are only represented by their political party. Forming such a party is a vital task of communism and workers in the present time in Tunisia.
6 - The western governments and media, just like the coalition government in Tunisia, try to crush these protests. They portray revolution as tantamount to violence, destruction and anarchy. Hence, they try to stop the protests. The ruling powers use all in their power to snip peoples’ protests at the bud and tempt them to be content with less. The populist trends, too, that portray these protests as revolution, practically serve the same interest. Revolution in Tunisia can only be a workers’ revolution with the aim of crushing the organs of the class rule of capital and the political and economic appropriation of the bourgeoisie. Real freedom and liberation of workers and the people of Tunisia can only be achieved through such appropriation.
