After months of instability, speculation and anxious anticipation, the moment finally arrived. The calm after the storm finally arrived as Tuesday's inauguration of the Constituent Assembly opened a new chapter in Tunisian history. The venue for the opening, Bardo Palace, was symbolic - the site of the signing of the Arab world's first constitution in 1861, which promised to usher in constitutionalism, shortly followed by the Bardo Treaty that imposed French rule.
One hundred and fifty years later, Tunisians finally have an independent, elected body that reflects their diversity and represents their voice, tasked with drawing up a constitution to enshrine their freedoms and reflect their ideals and aspirations.
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