Forward Thinking hold meetings in Tunisia, 11-16 May 2014

From the 11-16 May, Forward Thinking held a series of bilateral meetings in Tunisia that culminated in two roundtable workshops - one with young activists and the other with senior politicians. The meetings spanned Tunisia’s political spectrum and included discussions with:  Al Islah, CPR, the Democratic Alliance, Ennahda, Ettakatol, Independents, Joumhouri, Nidaa Tounes, the Popular Front, the UGTT, and a range of youth activists.Discussions at the meetings focused on the forthcoming elections, planned to take place at the end of 2014, and what the key challenges might be in the run up to them. There was a general consensus that establishing security was a necessary precursor to holding elections, but participants also spoke of the need to avoid exaggerating the challenges posed by terrorism and acknowledged that many countries had held successful elections in worse conditions. Participants also used the workshops to debate the appropriate role of public and private money in funding campaigns; the need for parties to start building consensus on economic reforms; the role of the media in elections; and how to avoid elections undermining the political consensus that has been achieved thus far.During the course of the visit Forward Thinking also met with the British and Swiss Embassies, as well as the EU Delegation to Tunisia, to hear their perspectives on recent developments in the country.