( CNN ) -- The Tunisian presidency announced on Sunday it would extend the country 's state of emergency through June , the official Tunisian news agency TAP reported . This is the second time the North African country 's presidency extended the state of emergency this year . Protests in Tunisia against rising unemployment rates , poverty levels , inflation and government repression in late 2010 and early 2011 were the beginning of and inspiration for the Arab Spring . The Arab Spring is the popular name used to describe the wave of protests across the Arabic-speaking world in recent years against autocratic regimes . Demonstrations led to the ouster of the country 's leader , Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in early 2011 . There have been longstanding political tensions since . In October 2012 , the once-banned moderate Islamist party Ennahda won Tunisia 's elections . The winning party formed Tunisia 's Islamist-led government .
Tunisia was the inspiration for the Arab Spring . Comment: The state of emergency extends through June .