Libya is blazing. As this e-bulletin comes out, a motley but determined horde of insurgents are battling their way across the desert from a fleet of Toyota trucks. Rafale and Tornado fighters are incinerating armoured columns from the air. And on Swiss radio, experts argue about whether using military hardware is the same thing as fighting a war.

It's not always easy to see what this means for democracy.

The picture seemed clearer a couple of months ago. The first months of the year saw sustained public outbursts in several Arab countries. As Tahrir Square became a name synonymous with popular fervour, IPU President Gurirab stated loud and clear: "Demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and other countries in the Arab world and beyond are telling us that the people are not satisfied. They want more transparency, freedom and greater social justice. They demand fair play, jobs and the benefits of development. They want more opportunities and service delivery, less marginalization and corruption; in other words, more democracy; not less. "

What lies ahead?  How will the institutions that govern these countries make sure they offer more democracy, not less?  How will national constitutions be made to encapsulate the new realities? How have other regions of the world dealt with this kind of tidal wave when it hits their shores?  

For the IPU, these are large questions that need considered answers. But for the day-to-day work, its business as usual: providing advisory and technical services when requested to do so. Tunisia, the country where the conflagration began, has done precisely that, and last month I made a preliminary visit to Tunis for talks.

I met with the new Foreign Minister, Mohamed Mouldi Kefi to discuss what was at stake now that Parliament had transferred its legislative powers to the interim President who has powers to rule by decree.   I had another meeting with Professor Yadh Ben Achour who presides over the reform commission and is in charge of leading the transition towards the democracy.

One point I made was that the IPU could assist in providing support on the gender aspects of the election process, including advice on quotas and other special measures the country can take to ensure a good gender balance in the new assembly.  I promised to dispatch a mission to Tunis to meet with the sub-commission on elections and other parties.  That mission has now been to Tunis and its findings are detailed elsewhere in this bulletin.

I also suggested that now is the time to start preparing for the work of the Constitutional National Assembly that the Tunisian people will elect in late July.  That Assembly will not only draft a new Constitution for Tunisia but also appoint a new government, legislate and hold that government to account.  I have offered IPU support to help identify the needs of that Assembly and start building its capacity so that it is ready to receive the people's new representatives and serve them well.

The bigger questions will be tabled by the IPU at its upcoming Panama Assembly. Speakers of Parliament and senior parliamentarians will be looking at times in history when power was wrested from the hands of the few and redistributed across society.  Such moments occurred - to mention a few examples - in Germany in 1989, in the Philippines in 1986, and in Chile at the end of the same decade.  A panel featuring the Speaker of the German Bundestag, the former President of the Senate of the Philippines, and the Vice-President of the Senate of Chile  will share their views on how democracy is best defended and strengthened during moments of great change. A viewpoint from an Arab country will be provided by the Vice-President of the IPU, Mrs. Zohra Drif Bitat, member of the Senate of Algeria.

What lessons for democracy and what role for the IPU? That is where I hope the Assembly in Panama will start providing answers to guide IPU's future action.

Anders B. Johnsson   
IPU Secretary General