Embarrassed France abandons its Tunisian ally

French President only abandoned Tunisia's Ben Ali once his downfall appeared inevitable.

Middle East Online

By Herve Rouach - PARIS

The relationship damaged France's standing Until the very last days of his often brutal reign, France stood by Tunisia's authoritarian leader Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, and only finally abandoned him once his downfall was inevitable. Despite concerns about his human rights record and refusal to open up the political process, French leaders had praised Tunisia's economic development and seen his rule as a bulwark against Islamist extremism. But when his people took to the streets to oust him and the time came for Ben Ali to take the path of exile he found France's airports closed to him, as an embarrassed Paris belatedly declared him persona non grata. "We don't want him to come," a government official said late Friday, arguing that granting Ben Ali exile in Tunisia's former colonial power would upset the hundreds of thousands of French residents of Tunisian origin. Then on Saturday, after weeks of violence that left dozens dead, President Nicolas Sarkozy finally offered "determined support" for the "democratic will" of the protesters, and called for free and fair elections. But before he issued the statement, hundreds of Tunisians had taken to the streets of cities across France to celebrate Ben Ali's downfall, and many criticised Paris for sticking by its iron-fisted ally for 23 long years. In Lyon, Tunisians brandished a banner reading "Ben Ali: murderer, France: accomplice", and demonstrators demanded that the ousted leader -- now seeking safety in Saudi Arabia -- be returned home for trial. The French foreign ministry said simply that if the former Tunisian leader sought asylum in France, it would take a decision in coordination with what it called "the constitutional Tunisian authorities". Some members of Ben Ali's inner circle managed to get out of the country in the days before his hasty escape. But Paris must now to build new relations with whatever new regime the upheaval creates in Tunisia, where France still has major interests, close business ties and around 21,000 citizens, most of them dual nationals. And inside France it may have to reassure its own Tunisian minority, many of whom were shocked by what they saw as Paris's callous silence during the days of protest, even after a police crackdown left dozens dead. As rights groups and Tunisia's persecuted opposition denounced Ben Ali's regime for shooting unarmed demonstrators, Sarkozy remained silent and his foreign minister offered support to the hated Tunisian police. Michele Alliot-Marie told lawmakers French police could train their Tunisian counterparts because the "skills, recognised around the world, of our security forces allow us to resolve security situations of this type". It was only on Thursday, on the eve of Ben Ali's fall, that France joined the mounting international chorus of condemnation and Prime Minister Francois Fillon condemned the regime's "disproportionate use of force". Many Franco-Tunisians -- particularly intellectuals and opposition figures living in France to avoid persecution at home -- condemned Sarkozy's silence as "complicity" in Ben Ali's authoritarianism. And the opposition said the relationship had damaged France's standing. "For weeks, the French position has seemed to be one of embarrassment, of caution, of prudence, while in Tunisia and across North Africa people expected us to speak out," complained Francois Hollande, a leading Socialist. Washington spoke sternly to Ben Ali long before France did, and President Barack Obama scored points with the protesting crowds on Friday by saluting their "courage and dignity" and calling for free and fair elections. France never spoke against Ben Ali's repressive tactics, even as thousands of opponents were jailed and the press was censored. Instead, on an April 2008 visit to Tunis, Sarkozy shocked many observers by praising his host and insisted that "the space for liberty is growing". As late as Tuesday this week, by which time rights groups were reporting around 50 dead, French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire said: "President Ben Ali is often judged unfairly, he's done a lot of good things for his country." But Tunisian opposition leaders dismiss the argument that Ben Ali's success in promoting the economy, women's rights and education while fighting Islamism can excuse his harsh rule and the corruption of his allies.