Tarek Boaziz, 31, was the youngest candidate from the Popular Petition Party (PP), yet his age and lack of political experience did not stop him from taking his chances and winning a seat in the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) representing the northeastern governorate of Nabeul.
Mr. Boaziz, can you introduce yourself?
I was born on April 8, 1982 in the city of Siliana. I studied in the Institute of Higher Technological Studies in Sousse and I was awarded a first-class media network technologist degree in 2004. I am currently an NCA member.
Tarek Boaziz, 31, was the youngest candidate from the Popular Petition Party (PP), yet his age and lack of political experience did not stop him from taking his chances and winning a seat in the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) representing the northeastern governorate of Nabeul.
Mr. Boaziz, can you introduce yourself?
I was born on April 8, 1982 in the city of Siliana. I studied in the Institute of Higher Technological Studies in Sousse and I was awarded a first-class media network technologist degree in 2004. I am currently an NCA member.
Did you experience unemployment and marginalization under Ben Ali?
Didn’t we all? But I was not too proud. I put my college degree aside and decided not to look down on any job offer whatsoever. Indeed, I worked in many fields outside of my specialty.
I learned to be satisfied with very little money until I got what I wanted. The revolution boded well for me and I managed to win an NCA seat.
As a young politician and a rebel who lived through all chapters of the Tunisian revolution, do you think young Tunisians are engaged in the current political scene?
Where are the revolutionary youth now? They have been totally sidelined since the revolution with no place in today’s politics. Neither the political parties nor the government depends on the youth. Young Tunisians are stumbling, me included.
Tunisian rebels liberated the country from the long-lasting rule of Ben Ali and gave their triumph to the ‘golden generation’ on a silver platter without even getting a simple “thank you” in return.
Neither Beji Caid el Sabsi nor Rashid al-Ghannushi had the guts to challenge Ben Ali during his heyday. Only young Tunisians did so when they triggered the Jasmine revolution and succeeded in eradicating a dictator who had tyrannized and marginalized them for many years.
Nearly three years after the revolution, are young Tunisians in a better position now than under Ben Ali?
Nothing has changed and not even a single demand raised by young Tunisians whose anger actually triggered the revolution has been met. On the contrary, marginalization, exclusion and unemployment have increased and poverty has become widespread in the country.
Neither Ben Ali nor the current government, which did not and will not give credit to young Tunisians for their sacrifices, gave anything to the people. Before the revolution, every young Tunisian dreamed of a job and a family, but today people are pessimistic and their only hope is to live in a safe and stable political environment, be able to bring grist to the mill and not to wake up on the news of a new bloodshed.
I believe the role of young Tunisians ended with the conclusion of the elections. As a young person and an MP, I have been suffering from marginalization and exclusion whether within the PP or the NCA. During my work in the committees, it was obvious that old school politicians were attempting to dominate the scene to the degree of barely giving anyone else the opportunity to speak.
Can young Tunisians save the country from its current crisis and are they a good bet for the next stage?
Young Tunisians have proved their strength, resolve and intelligence to the whole world and they have been role models for the Arab world. Young Tunisians are sophisticated, smart, thoughtful, creative and highly responsible. We have proven on numerous occasions and in many international events that we can convince the world of our ideas, proposals and professional capacities. I am absolutely certain that if young Tunisians were given the opportunity to govern the country for only five years, they would make a difference.
Has the current government comprehended young Tunisians’ problems and demands for which they rose up against Ben Ali’s regime?
Unfortunately, there is a huge gap between the young generation and the older generation and also between the government and young people. All political parties have turned a blind eye to the real problems that need urgent solutions; something which actually set off the Tunisian revolution in the first place. Instead, those forces have become busy in achieving their own interests and political objectives and dividing Ben Ali’s estate between them.
Are young people discriminated against? if so, why?
We cannot deny that young people are excluded and unfairly treated and this is obvious even inside the NCA. We, the youth, represent the oppressed minority. My colleagues and I have clearly seen how some figures in the NCA tend to dominate discussions and not allow anyone to speak. We have however stood firm and managed to impose ourselves on the political game and prove that we can make it.
I believe that the reason why some old school politicians are control freaks has something to do with their different mentality and ideology, in addition to their background built on hatred and exclusion.
Individuals of relatively similar age and different political parties can have common ideas and can reach an understanding on controversial issues, but when we have a generation gap, both sides will have contrasting needs and interests and no common ground can be found.
What has been achieved since the revolution?
Nearly nothing. But, I believe that corruption and bribery somewhat diminished compared to before, especially in areas like competitions for public jobs. These competitions are now more transparent compared to under the Constitutional Democratic Rally.
Are you satisfied with your performance so far as a young politician?
I have been doing my best to be up to the tasks assigned to me as an MP. I am currently working hard in the finance, communities, and revolution’s martyrs and injured persons committees and we are about to complete examining all the files referred to us.
Wih regards to the Nabeul electoral district, I have been doing my best to pinpoint its problems and attract investments and projects to the region. For example, the regional council’s budget in 2011 was around TND three billion (US $6 million), but we managed to increase it to thirty billion (US $18 million) and the money will be used to launch projects and create jobs in order to reduce joblessness among young people.
