Unfortunately, young leftist activists now under the target of the police are also the victims of their leaders' uncritical/unconditional support to the strengthening of the repressive apparatus in the context of the "war on terror" (expression still used in Tunisia).

In July 2013, a prominent leaders of a leftist party was cheering on the coup in Egypt and told me how he wishes something like that happens in Tunisia. I told him: "but our army is different than Egypt's one." He responded (I'm paraphrasing): "we don't have to use the army."

I think he was alluding to the MoI. A few weeks later, in reaction to the assassination of MP Mohamed Brahmi (pan-Arabist), many of them called for the army's intervention in politics. See @sh_grewal’s work on civil-military relations during the hot Summer 2013.

The assassination of Belaid and Brahmi made Tunisian leftist leaders redefine their central focus. They (re-)started targeting Islamists, and stopped concentrating themselves on economic issues (materialist conditions). They saw the former regime and police unions as allies.

Many young members started quitting the parties. Others followed party discipline and adopted the leadership line, obeying their bosses and following their Supreme Guides. We see the result ...