NO MARMITE IN TUNISIA

The new and definite election date was announced today, June 8th 2011, to be held on 23rd October 2011.  All announcements have been made to the National Press and Facebook pages and groups have updated their stories.  

Many of the Tunisian political parties had expressed their wishes that the original date in July be maintained, for fear of :-

a) losing ground with support, as other parties had more time to promote themselves or 

b) that the general mood of the country which had been improving greatly in most regions, would return to that of impatience, leading to rioting and lawlessness yet again!  

For now, most political parties have had no option but to agree for fear of looking like the bogeymen and any odd politician who tried to speak out during a long televised speech by the Prime MInister  Beji Caid Essebsi, was swiftly and professionally put down in front of the cameras with the expert wit and humour of the man, who many have said was a missed opportunity for Tunisia, all those years ago!

The weather in Tunisia has not been much better, being just as indecisive  for unlucky tourists with sunshine, showers and even cold spells in a month which would normally have lived up to its more usual name of "Flaming June!"  An earthquake on the 23rd May was even thrown in, although being registered at only 3.2, did not cause much of a stir or bring too many people out of their beds!

Metlaoui, a town in the far South of Tunisia, which many tourists will know as the place to catch the famous Red Lizard Train for a spectacular journey through the rocky and cavernous terrain of this desert region, became a scene of horror and tribal warfare, with over a dozen killed and hundreds of injuries, resulting in residents of the town being locked up in their homes under a curfew from as early as 4.00pm in the afternoon! Thankfully things seem to be getting a little calmer and no tourists have been affected as the trouble seems to be isolated to this remote part of the country!

Will report back next month from an election-free summer which hopefully will be enjoyable, peaceful and prosperous for all!