The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 is to be awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011 aka Tunisian Revolution.
- National Dialogue Quartet was formed in 2013 when the process of democratisation was in danger of collapsing because of widespread social unrest
- The quartet established an alternative and peaceful political process as Tunisia was on the brink of civil war.
- Tunisia adopted a new constitution in January 2014 and held democratic elections at the end of last year.
Organisation of NDQ
The National Dialogue Quartet has comprised four key organizations in Tunisian civil society:
- Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT, Union Generale Tunisienne du Travail)
- Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA, Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat)
- Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, La Ligue Tunisienne pour la Defense des Droits de l’Homme)
- Tunisian Order of Lawyers (Ordre National des Avocats de Tunisie).
These organizations represent different sectors and values in Tunisian society. On this basis, the Quartet exercised its role as a mediator and driving force to advance peaceful democratic development in Tunisia with great moral authority.
- Tunisia has now been plunged into a state of emergency due to the threat of jihadism. The suicide attack on a bus belonging to the president’s security entourage killed 12 people on November 24, 2015. Authorities announced a state of emergency for the second time this year.
Keys
Tunisia Capital – Tunis
Tunisia Currency – Tunisian dinar
Tunisia President – Beji Caid Essebsi
Tunisia PM – Habib Essid
