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Zouhair Maghzaoui and Hichem Mechichi clash over pre-July 25, 2021 democracy
via Business News2 min read
A recent exchange between Zouhair Maghzaoui, Secretary General of the Echaâb Movement, and former Head of Government Hichem Mechichi has reignited debate about the responsibility of political parties in the period before July 25, 2021. On Friday, April 17, 2026, Maghzaoui described the pre-July 25 democracy as "corrupt" and "empty of all social content," stating that support for the July 25 political shift aimed to establish a "true democracy" based on social programs and justice, though he admitted this transformation has not occurred. He downplayed current divisions, suggesting broad agreement on fighting corruption, establishing a social state, and combating monopolies. Hichem Mechichi responded by recalling a personal encounter where Maghzaoui allegedly requested the appointment of a relative to lead the Kebili governorate, stating, "It was indeed corrupt, this democracy that allowed people like you to access its institutions." This exchange highlights the Echaâb Movement's role in the period now criticized, as the party was part of the parliamentary democratic bloc, participated in the majority, and was included in the executive, notably in the government of Elyes Fakhfakh. The article suggests that the "corrupt democracy" denounced by Maghzaoui is one to which his party contributed, raising questions about accountability for past actions within a system now widely criticized in political discourse.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
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