Deposed Dictators' Wives Club

Volume 2, Issue 17, February 11-18, 2011

International Tribune 

Behind every strongman, there is a kleptomaniac wife.  She is a strong- willed and opportunist female persona, who climbs up the social ladder by marrying into power and often times, becomes the hidden voice that drives any leader to corruption beyond one's imagination.  She works hand- in- hand with her beloved dictator- husband.  She has the prowess of Salome and her marriage becomes a modern day version of Anthony and Cleopatra.  For her, nothing is more gilded than becoming the wife of a dictator. 

The newest addition to the deposed dictator’s wives club is ex-First Lady Laila Trabelsi, the second wife of recently-exiled President Ben Ali of Tunisia.  A former hairdresser and daughter of a fruit vendor, she was known for her love of fast cars – the family owned dozens – and fine clothing bought on frequent shopping trips to Dubai.  Laila Trabelsi took her own clan from rags to riches when she married into power.  She rose to become the country's most powerful woman.   She ran the family business like a cross between a mafia don and a marriage maker. She cemented alliances by marrying her relatives to more established families from the Tunisian business world and bourgeoisie.

When the political future of her family began to be in trouble, Laila was clearly well prepared.   According to reports, she quickly organized the removal of more than £37.5 million worth of solid gold bars from Tunisia's Central Bank before she fled via Dubai to Saudi Arabia. Many in Tunisia blamed the ex- first lady for taking the country in the opposite direction.  The Trabelsi's name was an epithet on the demonstrators rage, her image became an incitement to violence.  Protesters complained that the country was brought to ruin by "a mere hairdresser.”  Some even claim that the Trabelsi clan was more of the focus point of all the hatred and popular anger during the demonstration that led to the overthrow of President Ben Ali.  

The other world famous deposed dictator’s wife is none other than, Imelda Marcos, the wife of the deceased former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos.   For twenty years, the despotic regime of Ferdinand Marcos oversaw political repression and human rights violations. Thousands who spoke against the administration were murdered and the country’s economy ruined. When the couple fled the presidential palace after popular protests, Mrs. Marcos was found to have left behind more than 2,700 pairs of shoes and a collection of expensive mink coats.  The Marcos family is estimated to have looted billions of dollars from the country. In 1990, Imelda was acquitted of racketeering and fraud charges.  Imelda returned to the Philippines in 1991 and ran for political office as a presidential candidate the following year.   

Today, political turmoil is taking place all over the Middle East.  I wonder who will be the next one that will fall from power and grace.  The list is just growing.  From what we are witnessing, dictator’s wives are quick to adapt themselves to any situation- as long as it will be the continuation of their pampered lives.  Evidently, she can still expect palaces, power and sumptuous living standards – even when things go wrong.