Ousted Ben Ali could make political comeback in Tunisia

The head of the Tunisian Socialist party has revealed the possibility of former President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali heading the party and has called on the party to back the move.

Shukri Al-Balati, head of the Socialist Party, has said the Tunisian Socialists are “completing procedures to declare Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali as head of the party in exile” and is currently contacting the former president to persuade him to relaunch the “Constitutional Family” (Ben Ali’s old party before it was dissolved).

“It is a shame that Ben Ali continues to live in exile,” Al-Balati said in a press statement and called on everyone “to join the reconciliation process and unite efforts to save the homeland from all the dangers it faces from inside and outside”.

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For some Ben Ali can only return on the condition that he returns the millions of dollars he siphoned from the people of Tunisia during his rule and give the names of those who worked with him at the time corruption in the country was widespread.

“When we talk about [Ben Ali’s] return to the head of a political party, it means that any gang can operate a party,” one commentator said.

Ben Ali is currently living in exile in Saudi Arabia after leaving the country in January 2011 following pressure from popular protests that overthrew his rule. He faces several prison sentences and fines amounting to $85 million, according to Quds Al-Arabi.

Ben Ali is not the only leader ousted during the Arab Spring to try to make a political comeback; Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak announced last week his desire to run in the country’s upcoming elections.