Closing ranks with President Ben Ali in Rades

Hichem Hlioui
(University of Manouba)

Some 12,500 people attended President Ben Zine El Abidine’s Ali’s address at the Rades indoor stadium on Sunday. The address which was delivered on the occasion of the opening of the 2009 presidential and legislative campaign, was a truly momentous event which showed the strong communion between those present and the President.
Chanting slogans of support and encouragement, thousands of Tunisians from all generations raised banners expressing their support to President Ben Ali’s candidacy and applauding with enthusiasm to the pioneering initiatives he announced during his address.

Activists from the Democratic Constitutional Rally, but also simple Tunisian citizens, waved and sang as President Ben Ali presented many of the 24 items of his electoral program dubbed “Together We Meet Challenges”.

Wearing purple caps and brandishing small Tunisian flags, the audience rejoiced celebrating their leader and displaying an unconditional support to his policies which have helped usher Tunisia among the ranks of the top emerging nations in the world.
I, like millions of my fellow Tunisians, old and young, strongly believe that President Ben Ali is the best presidential candidate for our country on the strength of his impressive record during the past 22 years.

Mr President, we support you and your policies whole heartedly and will stand by you in the daunting task of building a better and more prosperous Tunisia!