The Guardian view on Tunisia’s coup: a spring that turns to winter | Editorial

In 2011 a repressive, authoritarian government collapsed because it proved unable to meet people's demands. Why would its return solve anything?

In 2011 Tunisia was the first Arab nation to topple its dictator, and the only one where genuine democracy survives. But events in the capital, Tunis, suggest that the country is experiencing a counter-revolution. On Sunday the president, Kais Saied, fired the country's prime minister, dismissed the government and froze parliament. Mr Saied has suspended lawmakers' parliamentary immunity, a pointed warning to political opponents. It is never a good sign when security forces storm television stations. Demonstrations have broken out - with protesters taking to the streets both in support for the president, and against him. The warmth of the Arab spring has definitely turned into the chill of winter.

The opposition - led principally by Ennahda, the moderate Islamist party with the most seats in parliament - called his actions a coup". It's hard to disagree with that description. But many in Tunisia either shrug their shoulders or, even worse, are drawn to demagogues, religious hardliners and those who praise the country's former dictatorship. The reason that sections of the population are receptive to either apathy or illiberal notions is that freedom and democracy in Tunisia have not delivered political stability and a prosperous economy. Instead corruption, inflation and unemployment persist. For the past few years Tunisians have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction, sometimes violently.