Sidi Bouzid-
Facebook was abuzz with Tunisians circulating a "selfie" of the new governor (governor) of Sidi Bouzid (center-west), Abdelhalim Hamdi, who had taken it for himself previously, before he was included in the movement made by Tunisian President Kais Saied in the line of governors yesterday, Tuesday. .
A large number of Facebook pioneers celebrated the decision to appoint Hamdi as governor of the city of the revolution, especially the sons of Sidi Bouzid, because he comes from a modest social position and is close to the simple people and bears the issue of the unemployed, while others expressed their reservations about this appointment because Hamdi lacks administrative experience. required for the position of Governor.
Who is Abdel Halim Hamdi?
Hamdi hails from the village of Nasr in the delegation (region) of Meknassi in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid, and he is the son of one of the symbols of the national liberation movement against French colonialism.
He obtained his BA in history from the University of Letters and Human Sciences in Sfax in 2000, and has not found a job since that date.
Hamdi has participated - since his graduation - in the annual national exam "Kabas" for assignment to the public service, without luck, until he was known as the "Sheikh of the Unemployed" as the people of his area called him, which made him resort to work for years in construction workshops.
Abdel Halim Hamdi (47 years old) has reported on the battlefields since the outbreak of the December 17, 2010 revolution, as the most prominent participant in it.
He was the voice of the unemployed and fought with them the protest movements calling for employment, most notably the “Haramna” sit-in in Al-Maknasi, and he supported many of those who were arrested and prosecuted because of their movements to demand job opportunities for those with higher degrees whose unemployment has been prolonged.
Politically, Abdel Halim Hamdi was known for his strong opposition to what he calls - in his press statements - "the failed regime of the Ennahda movement", and for his support for the exceptional decisions of Qais Saeed, which he took since July 25, 2021.
"set due"
As soon as his name was announced on the list of new governors, the joy pervaded Facebook, especially from those who lived Hamdi in the arenas of demonstrations and sit-ins, rejoicing at the decision to appoint him, which they considered "a worthy appointment for a fighter and fighter against the politics of corruption and nepotism in appointments."
Expressing her happiness, activist Maryam Bribri wrote, "Today, when I hear the news of Abdel Halim's appointment, I am overjoyed, because he is a person who deserves all the good and has something to offer the country, and because the region deserves a hardworking and clean person who loves it like him."
She adds, "Days I used to go to al-Maknasi for movements between 2014 and 2016, (Abdul Halim) was one of the pillars of the movement there. This person has great confidence in him."
"paid pages"
In turn, writer and political analyst Mohamed Dhouib expressed his sympathy for the decision to appoint Hamdi as governor of Sidi Bouzid in a lengthy post entitled "As for me, I do not depose my friend."
Dhoib criticized opponents of this decision, saying, "Hamdi's appointment provoked a state of bullying on Facebook by paid people and pages that do not care about the country's interest, as much as it means scoring political points against the President of the Republic and underestimating the new Wali of Sidi Bouzid, with the logic of putting poison in the fat."
The writer said, "Tunisia is all our country, and everyone has the right to occupy positions in it on the basis of work and diligence in what benefits people, but for some positions to remain granted in the form of satisfaction only to the sons of blue blood (Yankees) - in the words of the Latin left - I tell you this went with the time of Bou Enaba He will not return," he said.
A popular gathering in Mohamed Bouazizi Square in the city of Sidi Bouzid, which is known as the city of the revolution in Tunisia (activists)
impotent state
On the other hand, a second part criticized the appointment of Hamdi at the head of the governorate of Sidi Bouzid for his lack of experience and expertise in administrative work, as they believe that his selection was made on the basis of "loyalties", and nothing else.
In the context, Amna Zweidi, a human rights activist and local coordinator of the Ministry of Human Rights, says that Hamdi stood with the unemployed, being one of them, when he was in the National Coordination for Social Movements, "but he was appointed in the largest governorate full of corruption and the state is unable to employ anyone." or any development project in it.
Zuwaidi says - to Al Jazeera Net - that many in Sidi Bouzid are against the decision to appoint him, and that those who are optimistic about him are his relatives in the areas of Manzil Bouziane and Meknassi from which he hails, but she warned that "he is coming to large lobbies."
The activist stresses that Hamdi "stood by her side in her struggle," but she wondered, "What would he add in a crisis situation and a bankrupt country, would he calm the people of Meknassi and Bouziane who love him?"
She points out that Hamdi was denouncing the practices of previous governments, but he saw an alternative and change in Saeed's government, "and now he chose power," so he became "required to work and implement what he was calling for."
Zweidi pointed to the great responsibility that awaits him, wishing him success, "he chose the authority and he will be the party with whom the clash and the demand for our rights stolen 60 years ago," she said.
For her part, Tunisian journalist Asmaa Al-Bakoush commented on the decision to appoint Hamdi and wrote, “After 22 years of unemployment, the first job (a job) for Wali, congratulations to him. tampering with the security of the homeland."
And she concluded, "God willing, we will see him find solutions for all the unemployed, the thirsty, the poor and the deprived."