Oral history interview with Nidhal Ouerfelli, 2015
Abstract
Nidhal Ouerfelli describes his education and work in the French energy sector, during which he became acquainted with Mediterranean energy networks. He recalls the uprisings of 2010, which he witnessed from France. He describes being asked to participate in Ali Laarayedh's government, and beginning to work closely with Mehdi Jomaa. Ouerfelli was one of few people who continued working for the new g overnment after the departure of Laarayedh's government and the Troika. Ouerfelli relates his daily work as a minister in Jomaa's government and examines how Jomaa's approach encouraged collaboration and conflict resolution. Jomaa's background in management enabled him to build a close-knit team that worked together with efficiency and without involvement in party politics. By the end of the mandate, Ouerfelli felt proud of his contribution to democracy in Tunisia. He also analyzes the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet in 2015. The interview's 69-page transcription from the original French is acompanied by a 64-page English translation
Arab Spring, 2010-; Democratization--Tunisia; Energy industries--France; Tunisia Officials and employees; Tunisia Politics and government 2011-; Tunisia History Demonstrations, 2010-; Ouerfelli, Nidhal; Jomaa, Mehdi
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2015
Physical Description
69 pages; 64 pages
Note (Biographical)
Nidhal Ouerfelli is director of international relations at the French Commissariat for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies in Saclay, France. In 2014, he was appointed Minister to the Head of Government in charge of coordination and economic affair s in Tunisia's technocratic government. In 2013, he was appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Mines to the Minister of Industry in the Ali Laayaredh government. Before that, he worked at the Atomic Energy Commissariat as an intern and then a researcher
Note (Language)
The interview's 69-page transcription from the original French is acompanied by a 64-page English translation
Note
Interviewed by Caitlin Bertin-Mahieux on October 13, 2015
Note (Provenance)
Nidhal Ouerfelli, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2018